During the annual general assembly of the Superyacht Builders Association (SYBAss) on 24 September 2019, a board election saw Michele Gavino, CEO of Baglietto, elected to the board. With one board member standing down, a vote was held, resulting in Gavino elected to the board with all other sitting members re-elected.
“I am pleased to welcome Michele Gavino to the board of SYBAss,” commented SYBAss Secretary General Theo Hooning. “With board members hailing from Germany, Italy, the United States and the Netherlands, the board continues to reflect the global composition of SYBAss members.”
Gavino joined Baglietto in 2015 and is now CEO of the Italian superyacht builder. “I am honoured to become a board member of SYBAss. I am absolutely convinced that change is only possible through acting together as a unified system. I look forward to contributing to the superyacht industry in my new role as SYBAss board member,” commented Gavino.
The SYBAss board for the 2019-2021 board term consists of Michael Breman (Lürssen Yachts, president), Fabrizio Sgariglia (Perini Navi, vice-president), Michelle Jones (Delta Marine), Jan-Bart Verkuyl (Feadship), Michele Gavino (Baglietto) and Theo Hooning (Secretary General).
Taking place at the Yacht Club de Monaco on the eve of the Monaco Yacht Show, the SYBAss General Assembly has become a unique event that sees many leaders of the superyacht building sector coming together to discuss the latest market information and regulatory changes.
A highlight of the recent meeting was the analysis of the world economy and its impact on buyers of superyachts, delivered by former Boston Consulting Group analyst Erik Floor. SYBAss members benefit from this analysis which is published annually in a SYBAss-exclusive report. In his presentation, Floor spoke of slowing global economic growth, noting that the lower order book for 2019 was reflective of the caution felt in the markets. He also noted that billionaire growth continued to outpace superyacht ownership, suggesting that the industry do more to appeal to new prospective buyers.
SYBAss’ technical and environmental director, Lorenzo Pollicardo, provided an update on the regulatory landscape. Underscoring the importance of working together, Pollicardo stressed that upcoming legislation is likely to impact the superyacht industry with IMO’s increasing focus on maritime pollution. He noted that yachts were not exempt and that we must prioritise innovation before legislation and proactively seek new solutions.