Mike Deegan has spent his entire career in the shipping industry, joining the UK Merchant Navy straight from school. He served across various sectors, including tankers, passenger ships, and troop ships, specialising in large passenger vessels as a senior officer. Alongside serving as a full-time Merchant Naval officer, Mike undertook a parallel career in the UK Royal Naval Reserve, qualifying as a mine warfare specialist and serving on a variety of minesweepers and minehunters.
After more than two decades at sea, Mike moved ashore in 1999 as an operations director in the Middle East, supporting a fleet of royal yachts. He later joined Hebridean Island Cruises, progressing to managing director, before becoming group operations director for All Leisure Group, overseeing safety, security, and guest services across the fleet. In 2012, he joined Noble Caledonia as head of fleet operations, a role he held until December 2024.
Mike was appointed secretary to the Maritime Skills Alliance in March 2025. He is a Fellow of the (International) Institute of Hospitality and a Younger Brother of the Corporation of Trinity House.
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