By Isle of Wight Observer
Dear Editor,
On the day that sees Red Funnel Limited record a loss of almost £196m, the biggest corporate loss in cross-Solent history, the time has come for Fran Collins, their negligent CEO, to resign.
Captain Collins has overseen a catastrophic decline in the service provided by this once proud organisation whilst published fares have increased well in excess of inflation. This decline has, amongst many embarrassments and service failures, included the ultimate humiliation in March2024 of another company providing their Red Jet service because they were incapable of doing so.
At the same time as this collapse in service, Miss Collins has taken on an increasing range of roles outside Red Funnel. She is on the boards of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce and Saga Cruises She is a Major in the British Army and a Non- Executive Director of 17 Port and Maritime and in October 2023 she was appointed as an Elder Brother at Trinity House. Miss Collins is also co-chair of th?e Maritime and Transport Action Group of Business South and a Member of the DfT’s Clean Maritime Council.
Whilst taking on these additional roles outside Red Funnel her pay has not reduced. In 2022 she received a £41,000 pay rise taking her earnings to £283,000.
Her 17 per cent pay rise dwarfed that given to other employees of the ferry company in the same year.
And is it a surprise that the business has declined? According to LinkedIn all of Red Funnel’s directors are based on the mainland. Miss Collins in Southampton, the Commercial Director in Portsmouth, the HR Director in East Hampshire and the Chairman in Chelsea. Not one of them has to experience the shambolic service that they provide to Islanders.
So, Miss Collins, the time has come for you to take responsibility for the managed decline that you have overseen. It is clear that you have lost the support of your hard working colleagues who have to face, almost on a daily basis, the wrath of your customers, customers who you have failed.
Having taken the oath to join Trinity House you will be aware of the values that this venerable institution upholds. So please follow one of them, that of integrity. Please have the professional integrity to take responsibility for your failure to manage Red Funnel and step down from your role.
Show some respect to your embattled colleagues and us, your weary customers, and please leave your resignation letter on your desk. That is obviously on one of the very few days that you now work for Red Funnel.
Charles Collins, Cowes
Views expressed on the letters page are not those of the IW Observer.
