The expectations placed on yacht management can vary significantly, from owner to captain, while a common sentiment is resistance to management itself. How can we enhance the perceived level of service? And is there a need to elevate our professional standards?

MANAGING THE UNMANAGEABLE - FUNDAMENTALS OF YACHT MANAGEMENT

As the superyacht industry continues to evolve, we're witnessing a surge in new investors entering the market, significantly impacting both yacht construction and service sectors. Understanding how these investors perceive our industry and identifying potential opportunities is crucial for our continued success.
In this session, we'll delve into the potential role of Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in accelerating innovation, enhancing service levels, and driving profitability. Joining us will be Tommaso Nastasi from Deloitte, who will provide valuable insights into M&A trends and developments specific to the yachting sector.

M&A IN THE SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY: A STRATEGIC IMPERATIVE FOR FORWARD-THINKING INVESTORS

CRO Executive VP

Sharing info on safety, connection and inclusion.
My bio: I am an independent maritime multipotentialite who managed to change international maritime policy by creating a community. My greatest skills are to connect people, spark up valuable discussions, and solve problems together. 
At the wheel of the Maritime Unity Community: a group of people who use their own influence, power, knowledge and intrinsic motivation to make the world a better place for all of us. 
Currently I am hosting a podcast show called MARITIME UNITY on Yachting International Radio, where all kinds of different voices of the maritime sector are given a platform. Listen to the unified voice of humanity that diversity creates.
In my dayjob I am a Quality Safety Health and Environment Manager for a shipmanagement company.
My personality: compassionate, radiant, joyful, creative, intuitive, curious, responsible, social and flexible. I love positive change initiatives and has a high level of moral ambition. My desire for connection and safety is what sparks my neurodiverse mind. 
My background: Serving as a dual-licensed maritime officer, I started my career by crossing the many oceans of our globe on large container vessels. Where I built up a firm basis of experience in the maritime sector, working in a diverse variety of work areas all over the world.
The humanitarian work that I did in the maritime sector is what makes me most proud, as it set in motion global change. By gathering a large circle of people we solved one of the most complex and hidden problems in the maritime sector: the absence of psychological and social safety. 
As a UN delegate for a Flagstate at IMO, my job at the time focused on policy development adding a higher level of psychological safety in standards for education. The group on psychological safety to prevent bullying, unacceptable behavior and sexual abuse in the maritime sector initiated a change of mindset. Their proposals led to amendments to the STCW. Please find more about the work of this community in a recent article:  “The people that actively imagined a better world” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/people-actively-imagined-better-world-eva-lianne-veldkamp-9zf9e

Community leader, Podcast host, Safety manager

Founder

Marianne spent over 10 years at sea, sailing on various sailing yachts and motor yachts, as mate then later as chief engineer. She is very passionate about her time and experiences at sea and loved crossing the Atlantic to work busy charter and owner’s trips in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea. 
 
Marianne spent numerous years in the engine room, during which time she developed a true passion for engineering.  
 
In 2003, she started her land-based position as an assistant in the C&N Yacht Management Division and pursued her career in the maintenance and compliance of the yachts in the fleet. She swiftly became specialised in the ISM & ISPS compliance, an area in which she became the manager for many years. 
 
In between loving to learn and further her knowledge, she became one of the few certified ILO trainers in the application of the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 in the yachting industry. She implemented and adapted these regulations to the yachting field and kept herself highly involved and interested in any new regulations affecting yachts and seafarers. 
 
She passed on her compliancy responsibilities in 2013 and moved on to the Senior Fleet manager’s position looking after a large fleet of yachts. 
 
In 2018, she took over the role of Deputy Head of the Yacht Management division of the company and took over the Head of the department early 2019. She now manages the worldwide team of C&N’s yacht management, a job she does with passion and dedication. 
 
Always involved in teaching and sharing knowledge, she encourages everyone she encounters to grow and develop themselves.  She is focussed on offering an honest and respectful experience to owners and is proud to be surrounded by a team who thrive to continuously perfect the services they offer. 
 
Outside of work, Marianne loves spending time outdoors, hiking, kiting, swimming and sailing whenever possible.

Group Head of Yacht Management

Dean Smith runs Hampshire Marine a company specialising in large yacht refit supervison and new construction. He has worked in the superyacht industry for over 25 years gaining the ear of owners and industry for his straightforward approach to large project execution.
Having studied commercial shipbroking he was keen to move into the yachting industry and eventually joined Devonport shipyard in the UK leading their business development to win the build of such vessels as the 96m VAVA II.
Currently Hampshire Marine is monitoring several large refit projects throughout Europe and Dean follows many personally on the ground, enjoying the interaction with all the key members of the shipyard teams.

Director

Erik Hofmeester is the Head of Vessel Management at Samskip, a role he has held since June 2018. Based in Rotterdam, he oversees Samskip's in-house ship management of six container vessels, two LNG-driven multipurpose vessels and a sailing yacht. He leads the Vessels Newbuilding Dept. building two hydrogen driven Seashuttles and running more innovative green projects, such as the use of biofuel, CO2 capturing systems, and plug-in hybrid LNG vessels, wind assistance & solar panels, "digital twins" , emphasizing environmental sustainability in maritime operations.
Previously, Erik served in various leadership positions at Vroon Shipping, where he managed ship management teams, technical operations, and fleet performance for a diverse range of vessels, including tankers, bulk carriers, and offshore support vessels. His extensive career spans over 40 years, starting as a Marine Engineer at Nedlloyd, continuing a shore career as Superintendent up to Managing Director of Vroon Ship Management, giving him deep technical expertise in dry-docking, conversions, and newbuilding.
Erik's career reflects his strong commitment to safety, operational excellence, and green innovation in ship management.

Head of Vessel Management

Principal

Henry is one of the world’s leading authorities on consumer trends, having spent a decade as the Managing Director of TrendWatching. He is the author of Trend-Driven Innovation (Wiley, 2015), which underpins TrendWatching’s research and content that is used by 100,000 B2C professionals. 
Henry’s latest book, The Future Normal: How We Will Live, Work, and Thrive In The Next Decade (Ideapress, 2023), features the thirty biggest ideas and instigators that will shape humanity’s next decade; it launched as a featured keynote at SXSW.
Henry has given more than 150 inspiring and actionable keynotes and workshops in 30+ countries; he is a guest lecturer at HEC business school in Paris.
As co-founder of 3Space, Henry is also an award-winning social entrepreneur. 3Space’s innovative solution to urban regeneration was commended in Fast Company's World Changing Ideas 2019.
 Fun fact: Henry was featured in GQ's Most Connected Men in Britain list.

Karen is the founder of Impact Crew, launched in 2007 with the specific purpose of providing team and leadership development for the maritime industry. Karen’s expertise traverses the maritime and corporate sectors, and she has extensive experience working with managers, leaders, and professionals, through facilitation, training, 1:1 coaching and assessment.
She has a passion for developing people which is evident in her positive, enthusiastic and supportive style of delivery.   
Karen’s philosophy is “to create a relevant, enjoyable and highly participative event, which gives you practical tools that are truly valuable in the workplace”.

Anthony is dedicated to assisting yacht owners, owner representatives, advisors providing consultancy and corporate structuring services, as well as advising and supporting on the purchase/sale contracts, tax and VAT compliance, yacht registration and yacht finance. As the Founder of AG Advisory Ltd, his aim is to use the expertise and experience of the last 20 years to assist owners and their reps to manage their business and toys across the globe.   Dr Anthony Galea holds a Doctor of Laws from University of Malta and is vastly experienced in providing advisory and consultancy services, in various aspects of the yachting and aviation industries. Anthony’s career started in Malta and for many years he worked in local firms garnering the experience which serves him until today in the civil and corporate world, as well as in litigation. He helped set up DF Marine and later went on to set up and manage Vistra Marine & Aviation Limited. Anthony currently serves on many industry related Boards - mainly the Malta Maritime Law Association,  the Malta Chamber of Commerce Yachting Division, and the working group established to create a Superyacht Policy for Malta. In the international space, noteworthy is Anthony’s involvement in The Superyacht Alliance for Professional Standards and his participation as speaker or presenter of papers on various industry panels during the years.

Multi-award winning learning designer specialising in the application of immersive technology.

Principal Immersive Learning Designer

Giedo is a Naval Architect by education with a large appetite for complex problems and new technology. His work is a balance between developing long term strategies and hands-on tackling of today’s challenges. He acquired deep roots in maritime research and development during his years at the MARIN institute. In 2012, he moved to Feadship where he gained experience in yacht design, engineering, regulations, build and servicing. Today he holds the position of Head of R&D of Feadship, the leading brand of full custom superyachts. In this role he focuses on several developments which include sustainability, digitalization, structures, motions and modularity.

Head of R&D

Technical & Environmental Director

Mel is Co- Founder of SEAS THE MIND, a training company dedicated to creating mentally healthy and resilient seafarers through mental health training. Mel worked as a chef on busy charter sailing yachts throughout her twenties. After years of back-to-back seasons she recognised a consistent void of discussion and external support to counteract isolation and harassment that those in the yachting community face. 
Together with Emma Ross, their mission to address the mental health challenges faced by seafarers culminated with SEAS THE MIND’s inception just before COVID hit. Throughout the pandemic Mel worked as a policy advisor for the UK Chamber of Shipping specialising in Employment and Health & Safety to try and improve the quality of care seafarers were experiencing across the industry. 
In 2022 she left this role to give birth to her son and to publish 'Behind Ocean Lines - The Invisible Price of Accommodating Luxury’ to raise awareness surrounding depression at sea and to share the pitfalls but also the magic being yacht crew.
Though her work at SEAS THE MIND, her goal is to support crew wholeheartedly and give them the tools to access a truly fulfilling, long-lasting career at sea.'

President

<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3645ldmpfxjakg1xikw3r/Roberto-Martinoli-Biography-September-2024.docx?rlkey=3z10e1z4w61f7q738zwvhftpf&st=9ieot5az&dl=0">https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3645ldmpfxjakg1xikw3r/Roberto-Martinoli-Biography-September-2024.docx?rlkey=3z10e1z4w61f7q738zwvhftpf&st=9ieot5az&dl=0</a>

Board Member and Managing partner respectively

Greg spent 27 years as a marine engine, on numerous different types of vessels, including 15 years as Chief Engineer in the superyacht industry, before co-founding V360.
V360 produces XR simulation training for high-hazard industries such as maritime, nuclear, wind, oil & gas and construction. The training focuses on safety, competence and operational awareness using life-like environments and specific industry standards.

Divisional Lead

Aino joined Winch Design in 2016, bringing 20 years of experience in leading and growing businesses in creative industries, namely in the art, luxury and technology sectors. 
Holding an MBA from INSEAD, Aino started her career as a strategy consultant with Bain & Company. She then spent nearly a decade at Christie’s, in a variety of strategic and operational roles. Aino works closely with Andrew Winch, The Board and Senior Management Team to ensure Winch Design is as strong commercially as it is creatively.

Truly effective yacht management requires a multi-disciplinary skill set. As stakeholders in the industry, yacht management has a key responsibility to provide continuity throughout the lifecycle of the yacht with it’s changes in Ownership, Captain/Crew, Flag/Class, location/jurisdiction and multitude of service providers each with their own role to play and an agenda not necessarily aligned with the overall best interests of the yacht operation. We need to ensure an effective transition from shipyard to operational status with relevant historical data tracked, recorded and passed on for each component of the operation. We need to understand banking, insurance, VAT and fiscal implications, employment and HR processes, safety and Flag State compliance, technical, technological and communication trends, emergency response preparedness and a psychological approach to mental health and harassment issues.
With 29 years in the industry and a wide range of experience and exposure to yacht operational challenges and industry experts, Russell is keenly aware of the importance of asking the right questions and sense checking the responses in the context of the big picture and the best interests of the yacht. 
A qualified Captain, Marine Surveyor and member of the Nautical Institute with over 100 onboard audits and technical inspections carried out on a global fleet ranging from 35m to 135m carrying bespoke machinery and operational systems as well as project management and oversight for large refit periods for high profile clients, Russell has had the good fortune to be involved with all of the moving parts and many layers of complex operations and can draw on experience and working examples to ask the right questions.

Director - Yacht Management

<ul>
<li>Serial entrepreneur from SMEs to corporates in Emerging markets for 30 years, building companies through resources, Human resourcing, technology, from £2m to £2b turnover</li>
<li>Experiential Adventures for Luxury/UHNWI/Yachting, with Berkeley Rand, with BWA yachting /luise yachting/A1 greece</li>
<li>AI engineering in luxury, transport, Yachting creating change and evolution, currently working on funded series of capabilities that aim to change the yachting industry towards a new level of capabilities and services with over 30 clients in yachting/maritime  </li>
</ul>

Peter is a shipbuilder, naval architect and marine surveyor with 40+ years experience in the maritime industry and is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. Starting his career at UK Shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft as an apprentice shipwright/metalworker and later as a naval architect in the ship design department.
After a period with Lloyd's Register specialising in yachts and passenger ships. Peter joined the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency where is was responsible for the implementation and expansion of the large yacht code second edition. After joining the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry as a marine surveyor he was instrumental in developing the Register as the world's leading yacht register and played a lead role in the development of the Red Ensign Group Passenger Yacht Code.
Peter is a regular panelist at maritime events and a regular contributor to articles on regulatory matters. He is a well respected authority on matters related to the construction, regulation and operation of ships and large yachts.
Peter has a Law Degree from the University of London and has completed the LPC with the University of Law and has been involved in the development of shipping legislation and provides advice on maritime regulatory matters.
Peter is currently serving as Regional Director, Americas/Yacht Code Specialist with the Maritime Authority of the Cayman Islands, with responsibility for the Authority's technical operations in the Region.

Regional Director Americas/Yacht Codes Specialist

Head of Intelligence

Andrea Carlevaris’ journey in marine engineering began in Trieste back in 1978. After graduating as an engineer from nautical school, he gained hands-on experience as an Engineer Officer on commercial cargo ships, cruise ships, and tugboats.  The Navy construction industry was where he was employed as a foreman to build hybrid propulsion submarines at the end of the ‘80s.  His passion for sailing drove him away from the commercial world, and working as an engineer on sailing yachts first and mega yachts later contributed to his well-rounded perspective on marine engineering. He founded ACP Surveyors in 2005, a fully independent technical company dedicated to supporting yacht Owners. From new yacht builds to pre-purchase surveys, the company handles a full array of consultancy services, including paint inspections and technical expertise in various forms. A Class I commercial Chief Engineer and an ISM Lead Auditor, Andrea is also a qualified Registered Marine Coating Inspector (RMCI) and a Full Member of the International Institute of Marine Surveying (IIMS).

CEO & Founder

I am an MSc Marketing & Communications Professional, curating end-to-end impactful marketing strategies by blending brands' core competencies with trendsetting ideas. With over nine years of experience in the luxury, hospitality, and technology sectors, I specialize in brand positioning and strategic communication, revitalizing marketing strategies for national and international organizations. Having lived in four countries and six cities, I bring diverse perspectives that enrich my professional journey. Currently, as the Executive Director at the Superyacht Life Foundation, I craft and manage global campaigns that elevate the industry’s image while driving growth and building a strong reputation worldwide.

Executive Director

Paul is a Seafarer and Master Mariner, whose main focus is on improving crew safety. 
Alongside his two companies Dragonfly Maritime and Whitehorse Maritime Academy, which focus on safety/training consultancy and MCA oral exam preparation, respectively, Paul was involved with setting up CHIRP Superyacht, a superyacht-specific branch of the successful maritime safety charity, CHIRP Maritime. 
The purpose of CHIRP Superyacht is to provide a confidential forum for individuals to share their experiences of incidents and accidents with their peers in the community in a way that guarantees that they will not be identified. The reports that result then provide a fantastic tool for individuals to learn from and they can also be used in crew training and safety meetings onboard.

Chair of the Superyacht Maritime Advisory Board

John Wyborn is a co-founder and director of Bluewater, a yacht brokerage, charter and management company and a provider of crew training and placement services to a large proportion of the yacht crew population. He is a board member and ex-President of MYBA (the worldwide yachting association), is on the board of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) and is a board member of the International Association of Maritime Institutions (IAMI). He is Chairman of IAMI’s influential Small Ship subgroup. John also sits on the board of both the Merchant Navy Training Board and the Maritime Skills Alliance. He joined the Royal Navy as a seaman officer after university and served on various types of vessels including frigates, destroyers, and finally in command of HMS Mentor; a navigation and seamanship training vessel teaching RN trainees and foreign navies.

Director of Training

Mez Hunter is a Master 3000GT Yachts professional with over 15 years of experience in the superyacht industry. Starting as a junior deckhand, she earned her Master 3000 Certificate of Competency in 2021. Mez has sailed on vessels ranging from 50 to 90 metres worldwide, including a circumnavigation from 2017 to 2019. In recent years, she has also completed the IMO 6.10 Train the Trainer Simulator course, which she has used to develop and train teams in ColRegs, BRM , and communication techniques using a VR multi-user simulator.

Master 3000gt Yachts

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-pollicardo-401ba812">www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzo-pollicardo-401ba812</a>

Tore Longva works as a Decarbonization Director in Regulatory Affairs in DNV and has more than 15 years of experience within maritime environmental regulations and improving the environmental performance of shipping. Tore is following closely the development of regulating GHG in shipping as an advisor in the Norwegian delegation to the Marine Environmental Protection Committee in the IMO and is a regular contributor to DNV’s forecast studies on shipping emission reduction and development and uptake of new fuels, technologies and solutions. Tore has a MSc in Industrial Economics from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (2004). He is currently the chair of the Low Carbon Global Industry Alliance.

Decarbonization Director

Annalisa Tarquini-Poli is the Director of the MSc in Luxury Management at the International University of Monaco, where she also lectures on Luxury Distribution Strategies and Luxury Retail Marketing. With extensive experience in both academia and the luxury industry, her expertise spans Human Resources, Luxury Fashion, and Yachting.
Annalisa’s recent publications delve into the Ultra High Net Worth Individual (UHNWI) customer experience, informed by conversations with over 300 international billionaires. Her upcoming research focuses on the drivers of UHNWI purchasing behavior and the future evolution of their customer experiences.
She is the founder and director of The Mark Challenge, a prestigious global business plan competition for luxury products and services, now in its 12th edition, attracting students and alumni worldwide.
Before joining IUM, Annalisa spent over a decade as a Human Resources Manager in the luxury sector, advising prominent companies such as Fendi (part of the LVMH group). Her achievements include successfully overseeing recruitment processes across Corporate Headquarters, manufacturing plants, European offices, and retail networks.

Program Director MSc in Luxury Management

With the founders' background in organisational psychology and being an ex-seafarer herself, Karine,  has proven to build more resilient, productive, and engaged teams, increasing crew retention onboard, and ultimately elevating yacht culture. The Crew Coach helps Superyacht Crew elevate their leadership skills through the GUEST IAMI accredited Advanced Leadership Course, master their mental health through online counselling, as well as provides an exclusive yacht crew online leadership membership for yachting professionals to continue ongoing professional training, access influential mentors and guest experts to aid their professional growth and development.
 
Karine has been awarded the Acrew Duty of Care Award and was a finalist for the 2022 Mentorship Award. She has been featured in The New Yorker Magazine, London Sunday Times and the Marie-Claire. She also serves on the PYA well-being committee.

Elmarie is the founder and CEO of GoCrisis, a global Crisis and Disaster Management company.  With over 20 years’ experience in crisis and emergency management, she has worked with global brands (including FTSE 100 companies), assisting organisations (aviation, oil and gas, mining, bus and rail, maritime, manufacturing, education etc), to review their corporate crisis management plans, build their crisis response capacity and trained crisis leaders. Her work has supported some companies to become leaders in their industry with their approach to organisational resilience.
She has extensive front-line crisis and disaster response experience having responded to aviation accidents, maritime incidents, natural disasters, high profile corporate crises, political unrest, corporate evacuations, mass product recalls and data breaches.

Hein Velema is partner at Marstrat, maritime strategic consultants, and general secretary of the Superyacht Alliance for Professional Standards. Hein Velema has a master’s degree in economics and was a strategy consultant for a decade before starting in the superyacht industry as director Feadship. Later Hein moved to Monaco to become CEO of Fraser Yachts. During his career Hein was active in associations as board member at Hiswa, SYBAss, LYBRA, IYBA and the Superyacht Alliance.

Partner

Farouk Nefzi is the Chief Marketing Officer at Feadship, one of the most prestigious yacht builders in the world. With over 30 years of experience in luxury branding, Farouk has been instrumental in transforming Feadship into a global "lovemark," recognized for its unparalleled craftsmanship and exclusivity. Throughout his career, he has played a pivotal role in transforming the maritime sector, having led Europort and METSTRADE to become the most profitable maritime platforms globally and establishing the Netherlands as the premier destination for yacht building.
As a board member of the Superyacht Life Foundation, Farouk has contributed to enhancing the reputation of the superyacht industry by focusing on purpose, craftsmanship, and employment stories. His passion for sustainability extends beyond yachting, as seen in his founding of Sidi, a Fairtrade initiative connecting Tunisia and Europe. Farouk's work is driven by a commitment to creating brands that inspire and make a positive impact on global communities.

Chief Marketing Officer

Throughout his extensive career, Mr. Ferdinando Pilli has held top management positions in leading shipyards, gaining significant experience in both new construction and refitting projects. In 2018, he joined the Azimut|Benetti Group as the Custom Operations Director within the Benetti division.
In September 2024, he assumed the role of General Manager at Lusben, where he is responsible for driving the company's growth and expansion.
His leadership focuses on further consolidating Lusben's position in the motor and sailing yacht refit industry across the Mediterranean, with an emphasis on innovation and efficiency through a dedicated team.

General Manager

Rose Damen is the Managing Director of Damen Yachting - the Dutch superyacht builder behind the iconic Amels yachts, Xplorer luxury expedition yachts and Yacht Support vessels. A company which offers clients the largest superyacht facility in the Netherlands and is world-renowned for the very highest quality superyachts above 50 metres in length. Damen Yachting is part of the Damen Shipyards Group, of which Rose is a third generation family shareholder. A graduate of INSEAD, Rose has prior experience as an investment research analyst in the UK and NGO coordinator in Sri Lanka. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Bombardier, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum and serves on an number of non-profit boards, including those focused on the arts. She is an advocate for gender balance, inclusivity and diversity in all forms.

Managing Director

Sales Director

Sales Manager

Ken Hickling has worked within the Yachting industry since graduating from Solent University in 1990 where he studied Boatbuilding and Boatyard Management. During that time, he worked with Composites specialist Gurit (UK) Ltd (formerly SP Systems) before spending 21 years with the leading global paint company AzoNobel. His positions there included VP Marketing for Interlux in the USA and Global Manager for Awlgrip – both specialist Yacht paint companies. Mr Hickling currently serves as a non-executive director on the board of the Viking Maritime Group . In addition to running his own Business Advisory company, he currently has the role of Managing Director for three specialist consulting companies: Newmar Overseas Consulting Ltd, Optimar Consulting Ltd and John Robinson Associates Survey Specialists Ltd. Ken holds a position of Emeritus board member with global superyacht industry association ISS, having served as President, and is currently vice chair of Superyacht UK, which is part of the UK leisure marine trade body British Marine. Hs is also the BSI (British Standards Institution) representative on ISO TC8/SC12/WG5 the technical standards working group addressing Quality on Superyachts. Ken also serves as one of the Trustees of the Superyacht Charities Foundation which raises funds from within the Superyacht industry on behalf of many small charities operating across Europe.

With a degree in Mechanical Engineering in Rome (Italy) and a Master from Southampton (UK) University's Yacht & Small Craft course, in 2011 Matteo began his career in The Netherlands where he worked with key superyacht shipbuilders as Naval Architect and Project Manager. In 2015, he moved to the UK and joined a leading international naval architecture consultancy firm where his role evolved into leading the business and commercial activities for the superyacht segment.
In 2024, Matteo joins RINA as Head of North Europe Yachting Centre where he ensures clients benefits from the best services both in terms of technical excellence and timely responses. Based in the Southampton office, he is responsible for the business development strategies, forming long term partnerships and commercial activities in the Region.
Matteo has served as member of the executive committee of Superyacht UK, the Great Britain’s superyacht industry advocate association and he is a proud Member of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

Head of North Europe Yachting Centre

Robert has 25+ years in aviation leadership, excelling in strategic management, operations, advocacy for sustainability, workforce development, Advanced Air Mobility and Boeing 737-rated pilot.

Michelle Van der Merwe has been working at Pantaenius Monaco for 18 years and is responsible for managing the English language superyacht team, both for sales/new business and underwriting/administration. The Monaco office is the 2nd biggest office in the group and one of the leading providers of yacht insurance in Europe.
 
She has worked in insurance for 30 years and started her career in corporate private medical insurance in the UK with PPP Healthcare (now AXA PPP), moving to QBE Insurance as a Client Services Manager and then to AIG as Healthcare Claims Manager. 
 
Michelle has extensive experience in yacht insurance underwriting, product development, provision of excellent customer service and the management of client relationships.

Superyacht account manager

Born in 1974 in Aalsmeer, Roderick de Vries pursued Maritime Engineering at TU Delft. He joined Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw in 2003, leading key projects and becoming Technical Director. Today, he continues to drive innovation in the family-owned company.

Technical Director

Senior Technical Consultant

Head of Energy

Dale is the founder and CEO of Proteus Professionals - a specialist marine technical recruitment agency, based in UK and NL, and servicing clients worldwide. An industry veteran himself with 20 year long career starting with the America's Cup and ultimately delivering 35 superyacht projects, Dale's intimate understanding of the maritime sector is what sets Proteus Professionals in a league of its own amongst recruiters.
Together with his team at Proteus (all ex yachting professionals too), Dale provides world class technical recruitment to the high-performance yachting, superyacht and composites sectors. Leveraging rich inhouse industry expertise, extensive candidate network and a 21st century data driven evidence-based technology system, Proteus Professionals provides a streamlined, efficient and cost-effective recruitment process that guarantees client satisfaction and enables smooth project delivery.

Director Sales Yacht Refit

After graduating from university, Julian joined Lloyds Register in 2004 as a Surveyor in the Yacht and Special Service Craft Department. In 2014, he joined the Fire and Safety plan approval department as Lead Specialist (Yachts) and was responsible for the appraisal of plans and documentation for various superyacht projects up to 150m LOA. In 2017, he joined the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry and is now responsible for safety and compliance related matters from both a new build and in-service perspective specialising in pasenger yachts and alternative fuels. He also acts in the capacity of Code Secretariat for the REG Yacht Code and particpates in various industry working groups regarding regulatory development. Julian is a Chartered Engineer and a Member of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects.

Principal Surveyor

Lennart Pundt is a naval architect with a deep-seated expertise in ship design and propulsion systems, acquired from his studies at the Technical University in Hamburg. His career with Lürssen began as a student in 2006, initially in mechanical engineering and later in the basic design department, where he specialized in sea trial analysis. In 2013, Lennart transitioned to Lürssen's pre-contractual engineering team as a naval architect, and he now leads the project development team for yachts.
In his current role, Lennart is responsible for guiding projects from initial inquiries to the signing of contracts. His work encompasses the development of general arrangement plans, the selection of optimal propulsion systems, and advancing energy efficiency strategies. Today, many of Lennart's projects integrate alternative fuels, reflecting the industry’s shift towards sustainable solutions in yacht design.

Head of Project Development

Rob Papworth graduated from Southampton University in 1995 with a degree in Ship Science. After spending a few years pursuing his passion for sailboat racing in the superyacht world, he transitioned ashore in 1998 to begin his first composite yacht build. This initial experience sparked a decade-long career in the construction of high-tech composite sailing yachts, including several prestigious projects for the America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Race.
In 2001, Rob moved to the South of France, where he entered the yacht refit industry with Compositeworks, eventually becoming a shareholder in the company. When Compositeworks was acquired by MB92 in 2017, Rob stayed on in La Ciotat to lead operations,  where he continues to serve Managing Director. For the past decade, he has also served as Chairman of the ICOMIA Superyacht Refit Group, contributing his expertise to industry standards and best practices.
Rob still resides in the South of France, an ideal setting for enjoying both his love of the sailing and skiing with his wife and 2 children.

Richard Jennings currently works in the Yachting Industry as The Global Technical Service manager for Akzonobel Yacht Division.
Richard Previous roles have been within the Painting and Engineering Industries both in Automotive and Yacht, working as an Applicator, Inspector, quality control and Paint manager. The latter being Sunseeker international, specialising in Exterior and Interior effect finishes and repairs. 
Having qualified as a panel beater and painter in the automotive Industry NVQ ( National Vocational qualification ) Richard turned his passion of boating and paint into a career which has to date ( 2024 ) spanned 36 years.
Having undertaken further education Richard has also qualified in NCFE level 3 award in education and training, delivering training on application and products for the yachting Industry, whilst holding both Nace 2 and RMCI qualifications.

Inspiring leader with 30 years of management, sales, marketing, and product development experience in marine, luxury products, advertising & communications, IT, and professional services.
A regular, spirited and seasoned keynote speaker- lately most often on the topic of sustainability, luxury marketing, the UHNWI segment, and the future of the marine industry. Completely fluent in English, Swedish and Finnish with advanced notions of French. Decades of global management experience translated into excellent cross cultural communications and people skills.
Lots of pragmatic, hands on management experience in start-up, corporate and turnaround scenarios. I also have an astute understanding of boardroom level corporate life in a variety of industries, settings and cultures. 
Having been involved in several acquisitions on the buy, sell and advisory side in the IT- and marine industries gives me a vast depth of understanding regarding strategy and best practices in a variety of environments. 
In summary, the above makes me a consummate and driven general manager, still curious and most inspired by helping people and businesses grow and develop. As well as learning and growing personally every day - expedited by my favorite methodology; management by walking around.

Marlies grew up in a small inland town in the Netherlands, discovering her love for travel and sailing during her business studies. During this time, she also developed a fascination with leadership and team dynamics while working as an assistant trainer, creating role-play scenarios for executive corporate training. It was here that she realized how bias and varying information can shape people’s behaviour. After a successful corporate career that allowed her to start exploring the world, she accidentally discovered yachting over 20 years ago and knew she had found a new calling: she has been sailing ever since.
 
With extensive experience racing and cruising in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, East Coast of the States, Northern Europe and even remote places in the Arctic, Marlies is also an accomplished offshore sailor with numerous Atlantic crossings under her belt. Having worked her way up the ranks on both small and larger sailing and motor yachts, learning valuable lessons from each of her captains and crews - sometimes discovering the kind of leader she did not want to be. 
Her curiosity and determination drive her to keep learning, combining personal experiences and insights from the people she works with, along with more formal training. She focuses not only on mastering technical skills but also on personal growth and improving her leadership abilities, so she can be a stronger leader and better support her crew.

Captain

Auctioneer & Presenter/Ladyspeaker

Nicola Pomi joined Volvo Penta in 2006, initially overseeing the Italian and Spanish markets. His expertise and commitment to innovation led to his promotion to Vice President in 2018, where he played a crucial role in driving the growth of Volvo Penta’s marine business. In addition to his career at Volvo Penta, Nicola spent a year as General Manager at Azimut Benetti Yacht, gaining valuable insights into yacht design and customer needs from one of the world’s leading yacht builders. Now serving as Vice President of the Yacht Division at Volvo Penta, Nicola leads the development and implementation of advanced marine propulsion solutions, focusing on innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Passionate about the sea and committed to preserving its environment, Nicola is dedicated to promoting technologies that reduce emissions and enhance the boating experience, ensuring a cleaner, greener future for the marine industry.

Vice President Yacht & Superyacht Division

With a background as a professional sailor member of the Spanish National&Olimpic team and Yacht Master Captain. My education skills are in tourism and business management. 
 
I have the know-how of succesfully founding and managing my own start-up company, Portbooker, that operated with online berth and yacht charter bookings worldwide. Experience leading large teams and worldclass waterfront real estate portfolios with a strong marina, F&B, retail and hospitality component.  
 
During my career I have also obtained a strong knowledge on commercial negotiations, sales&marketing techniques and management of major international yachitng events such as the F1 in Yas Marina Abu Dhabi or the Adriatic MYBA International Superyacht Pop-up show.
I am ambitious, competitive, and driven with very high values. I enjoy challenges and delivering under pressure.  
 
Key Achievements: 
 
-          May 2018-March 2022 GM of Yas Asset Management Group: Portfolio of ten properties that included 3 marinas with over 500 berths, 160 F&B units and GLA of over 40.000 sqm. During this period I successfully did the handover from construction pre-opening and opening of 4 new properties: Yas Bay (F&B 50 plus) and Marina, Yas Marina Dry Stack, West Yas Plaza Mall and Yas Arcade Mix usage office and retail. 
-          March 2017-May 2018 CEO “MARINA VELA BARCELONA”: Marina Vela was a new Superyacht marina and retail destination located in the heart of Barcelona. A 100M euro investment with 136 berths up to 100m, drystack for 222 boats and 50 units for retail and F&B. I successfully did the handover from contractor, pre-opening and opening. 
-          April 2013 – March 2017 GENERAL MANAGER “PORTO MONTENEGRO Yacht Club”:  Porto Montenegro is the leading superyacht marina & village of the Mediterranean. A half billion-euro investment with over 400 luxury residences, 5 Star Hotel, Yacht Club, over 60 retail units and 450 berths.
During this period I also shared my GM role with the responsibilities of: “Director of the International MYBA Pop-Up Super Yacht Show“ and “Member of the Porto Montenegro Yacht Club Board“ .

Following his secondary and higher education in the Netherlands, Italy and UK (MSc Marine Technology), Engel started his career as a loss adjuster in the UK, determining insurance claims. In 1994, he was employed by the International Chamber of Shipping representing shipping companies mainly at the IMO. In 1996 he joined Lloyd's Register where he worked as a field surveyor dealing with various ship types including yachts and passengerships. He was appointed manager of the plan approval office in Rotterdam in 2005. From January 2012 his carreer took a more commercial direction by leading the sales team in Western Europe. He has been managing the yacht segment from commercial, technical and marketing point of view since the year 2000, representing LR during industry and governmental meetings. He became LR Yacht Segment Director in 2021.

Global Yacht Segment Director

Terry Hutchinson is a distinguished American sailor and a veteran America’s Cup competitor with participation in six America’s Cup cycles. He notably served as a winning tactician in the Louis Vuitton Cup, and now includes serving as President of Sailing Operations and Skipper for NYYC American Magic. With seventeen World Championship titles and multiple North American and National Championships, he has left an indelible mark on the world of competitive sailing. He is a two-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and has received numerous accolades for his sailing prowess. A proud alumnus of Old Dominion University, Terry continues to inspire and lead in the sport of sailing.

President of Sailing Operations/Skipper

Mark Kruidenier holds a B.Sc. degree in Naval Architecture and a Postgraduate Diploma in Executive Maritime Management.
He is a principal surveyor/ lead auditor for ISM, MLC, ISPS, ISO9001, ISO14001, ISO45001, ISO50001 and Business Development Manager/ Key Account Manager at DNV Maritime with his main focus on Business Development. Mark has worked for DNV since 2005 and was located as an expat in Korea between 2014-2016.
He is currently based in Rotterdam/ Marseille.
When not at work I enjoy spending time outdoors and with the family.

Business Development Manager

Snorre Halvorsen has been a member of The Club's Loss Prevention - Global Support & Training team since 2019. His role as Executive Senior Advisor sees him assisting clients both before and after an incident with regard to strategic and operational risk, crisis management, business culture and leadership, as well as global operational intelligence support.
Before joining The Club, Snorre enjoyed an 11-year military career which saw him as an officer in the Norwegian Army Rangers, Royal Norwegian Navy, coastal rangers and the United Nations Forces in Lebanon This was followed by more than 20 years in leader and advisor roles within private and public sector agencies specialising in risk and crisis management. 
Snorre also held the position of Project Manager for the Regional Civil Protection Centre and the Emergency Management Cluster in Norway's Vestland region. During the Road World Championships in Bergen 2017, he was Chief of the Joint Cooperation Centre where 31 agencies were gathered to protect the city region during the nine-day event. During the pandemic, Snorre was asked to assist the Bergen City Health Authorities in the role as Covid-19 Crisis Coordinator.
A graduate of the Royal Norwegian Naval Academy, Snorre also holds an Executive Master of Management in Energy from BI Norwegian Business School.
He says: "In an ever more complex world, I believe the winners are those who acknowledge the competence of others and dare to invite them to the table."

Executive Senior Advisor - Loss Prevention  & Emergency Response

Niels Klarenbeek has managed the METSTRADE team since early 2020, overseeing the strategy and growth of the world’s leading B2B event for the recreational marine industry.
He also serves as President of the International Federation of Boat Show Organisers (IFBSO), where he promotes an agenda focused on making boat shows more inclusive, sustainable and engaging.

Director METSTRADE | President IFBSO

Prof. Dr. Phil Klaus is globally recognized as a pioneering figure in the realm of Customer Experience Strategy and the foremost expert in Ultra High Net Worth Individual (UHNWI) research. His influential work has solidified his position among the World's Top 2% Scientists, as ranked by Stanford University for five consecutive years from 2019 to 2024. Prof. Klaus is the Chairman of the PK Customer Experience Institute, the founder of Prof. Dr. Phil Klaus Advisory, Monaco, and the innovative force behind Lexden Luxe, a consultancy dedicated to businesses catering to UHNWI clients.
As a Professor of Customer Experience Strategy and Management at the International University of Monaco, Prof. Klaus combines academic rigor with practical expertise. He is the bestselling author of "Measuring Customer Experience," a seminal work that has redefined how businesses approach customer satisfaction and loyalty. His award-winning research, celebrated for its impact and innovation, has been featured in numerous books and a wide range of prestigious academic and managerial journals.
Prof. Klaus's extensive experience extends beyond academia into strategic advisory roles, management consultancy, and executive leadership. He maintains an active portfolio of Blue-Chip clients globally, offering expert advice on customer experience strategy, profit enhancement, 'next practice' innovations, and business development. His insights and strategies have earned him accolades as a top CX influencer for the past two years.
In addition to his scholarly achievements, Prof. Klaus's thought leadership is prominently showcased in leading publications such as the Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, and Forbes. His contributions to these publications have provided valuable guidance to managers and executives worldwide. He is a sought-after keynote speaker, known for delivering compelling and insightful presentations at major industry conferences and corporate events. His expertise is also highly valued in executive education, where he designs and delivers programs that equip leaders with the tools to excel in customer experience management.
Prof. Dr. Phil Klaus’s unparalleled expertise, combined with his dedication to advancing the field of customer experience and UHNWI research, makes him a vital asset to businesses and academic institutions alike, driving forward the standards of excellence and innovation.

Professor of Customer Experience Strategy and Management

With a background on yachts and prior recruitment experience, Nicola has co-run Wilsonhalligan Recruitment for nearly ten years, placing crew on board as well as staff in maritime business and private households.  She is passionate about crew welfare and alongside her role at WH sits on the steering committee for Yacht Crew Help and is also a mentor for the Coming Ashore Programme.

Innovation Project Manager

Tenair

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