- pic of the month - Riva Trophy Miami
Aicon Yachts Appoints Second CEO
The Board of Directors of Aicon, an Italian group based in Messina, which specialises in the design, production and marketing of luxury motoryachts and megayachts, met today in Milan and passed a resolution to implement a new corporate governance system which sees the nomination of a second CEO. Tiziano Lazzaretti, newly elected by the Board of Directors as the Company’s CEO and General Manager, will start as of 1st April 2008. The new organization chart sees the Group’s President, Lino Siclari maintaining his role a CEO in charge of the Business Development, Production and Strategic Planning Departments, supported by Tiziano Lazzaretti who will be CEO in charge of the Administration, Finance & Control, IT, Human Resources, Legal & Corporate Affairs and Risk Management Departments. Lazzaretti will also be CFO of the company and act as coordinator of all the Group's Investor Relations activities. The Group’s Strategic Planning activities will be assigned to Gaetano Visalli who leaves his position as CFO and Member of the Board of Directors, having concluded the procedure which brought to the Company’s listing. Originally from Turin, Lazzaretti obtained his Economics degree at the University of Turin and started working in Fiat’s Planning and Control division. After his MBA (financed by the same Fiat) at Luigi Bocconi University he moved to London to work for Gruppo Fiat’s Corporate Office, where he became CFO and Deputy Chairman of Fiat UK. In 2001 he accepted the entrepreneurial challenge of the London-based consultancy firm Power Consulting Company, in which his position as Financial Vice President made him responsible for the company’s reporting and strategic support. Still in London, in 2004 he moved on to Accenture and was in charge of the financial organization for outsourcing contracts for pan.-European clients. In 2005 Lazzaretti returned to Italy to take on the position of CFO at Snia, a historical company of the Italian industrial world. The Board of Directors also passed a resolution regarding the euro/dollar exchange rate and the altered conditions of the US market, to alter the Group’s marketing strategy in the US using a network of brokers to sell Aicon motoryachts and megayachts directly to final clients. In addition, considering the altered context and market, the Board of Directors communicates that it has started a review of the Industrial Plan presented on 25th October 2007, the conclusions of which will be made public in the half-yearly report of the nautical year 2007/2008.
Baia awarded Nauticsud and Yacht Capital Award
Cantieri di Baia have been awarded for building the biggest open ever built in Campania. A jury of experts acknowledged the shipyard’s merits in domestic and international development of Naples Enterprises in yacht building. Roy Capasso, marketing manager of Cantieri di Baia, received the award, during the ceremony of Nauticsud Award. Baia was also awarded during the gala event organized by renowned Italian Yacht Capital magazine and Alfalyrae in the wonderful location of Circolo Savoia. Antonio Capasso collected the Alfalyrae Yacht Capital Award 2008, awarding Baia for technological quality excellence and winning sales and export strategies of the product, leading the Campania boat builder at the top of its sector.
Cabo Yachts Introduces CaboUno Factory Demonstrator
Cabo Yachts, one of the world's top builders of sportfishing boats, is proud to announce the debut of its new factory demonstrator, the Cabo Uno. Cabo has chosen its newest model, the 38 Flybridge, to launch this new factory program with the belief that this model will help to secure Cabo's place as a leader in the sportfishing boat industry. The Cabo Uno will be seen this winter (2008 or 2009), fishing at the Cabo Cup tournament circuit throughout Florida.
CNL Appoints New Director
Cantieri Navali Lavagna announced David Pranzini as the new CNL Sales and Marketing Director. Born in 1971 in Bologna, David Pranzini has an Economics degree and an MBA at the Management School of the Bocconi University and several years of experience in yacht leasing before joining CNL. After two years at the Selmabipiemme Leasing, a company of Mediobanca Group in Milan, where he managed distribution channels and developed new products, he joined the Compagnie Monegasque de Banque (another company of the Mediobanca Group) in Monaco as Director of SMEF (Societé Monegasque des Etudes Financières) and specialized in financed assets for large pleasure craft, including charter vessels. David Pranzini will attend to the sale and commercial development of CNL, giving this new appointment evidence of the strategic journey of growth and impact being pursued on the market by the Group. Cantieri Navali Lavagna is leader in the construction of fully customized planning maxi yachts in aluminum alloy from 32 up to 44 meters. CNL Admiral will also launch its biggest ever yacht, a 54 meters built with steel hull and aluminum superstructure to be presented in July.
Ferretti Group Convergence
After the success of the previous four events, this year Ferretti Group renewed its customary appointment - Convergence - the training and refresher courses organised exclusively for Ferretti Group yacht and megayacht Captains, in Rome. For the very first time, Convergence and Convergence Navi were organized as a single event, featuring distinct, separate training courses. The decision to organize a single, longer appointment, with even more technical content, and to choose Rome to link Ferretti Group to its Italian culture, was a winning idea. Indeed, almost 200 captains from Europe, the USA, the Middle East, New Zealand and Australia attended a highly interesting few days, also thanks to the participation of Service Managers from all the companies present to meet captains personally and respond to their many questions and requests for explanations. The technicians of MTU, Official Main Sponsor of this year’s event, Rolla, Saim, and ZF were at the disposal of participants, offering their experience in a specially fitted out area. Moreover, the presence of other sponsors, such as Besenzoni, Catef, CCLG, Idromar and Studio Ti, contributed to making this year’s Convergence an opportunity to further increase their knowledge. As on previous occasions, Convergence was organised in meetings and classroom sessions in order to make an in-depth study of all the main topics concerning the daily management of motoryachts. It featured training workshops; technical presentations by motorisation, component and on-board systems experts; updates relating to medical and legal issues; and practical training. Moreover, a round table was organised with the aim of discussing and making comparisons regarding the more complex aspects of the daily management of motoryachts and the experience of each of the participants. Convergence also featured a number of team building activities, specially studied projects both technical-training and more entertaining, such as the treasure hunt to discover the capital’s artistic beauties. As always, Convergence provided participants with the opportunity to compare experiences, and was crowned by an exclusive Gala dinner in the prestigious location of Palazzo Taverna in Rome, which Group CEO Vincenzo Cannatelli and the brands’ Chairmans and CEOs attended.
Ferretti Group renews Anti Rolling Gyro Agreement with Mitsubishi
The installation of the ARG (Anti Rolling Gyro) system on Ferretti Group yachts will continue as a world exclusive until 2011, thanks to the renewal of the agreement with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. For the past five years, this revolutionary system has been successfully installed on yachts from all 9 of the Group’s brands, and features extraordinary innovation in nautical technology. It allows for a reduction of over 50% in the rolling caused by wave movement, making life on-board Ferretti Group yachts particularly comfortable and pleasant both during navigation and when the yacht is moored.
Ferretti Group chooses Leo Burnett for Corporate Communications
Ferretti Group, managed by Chairman Norberto Ferretti and CEO Vincenzo Cannatelli, at the very top of the international luxury yacht segment thanks to unique portfolio of the most exclusive brands in the nautical world (Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Bertram, Riva, Apreamare, Mochi Craft, Custom Line and CRN) chose Leo Burnett, Giorgio Brenna’s agency, to develop the company’s corporate communication. Ferretti Group closed its financial statements on 31st August 2007 with a Production Value of 933 million euros and a gain of 21% compared the previous year. Leo Burnett will develop the project under the leadership of Guido Chiovato, with a team integrated with Arc, and will cooperate with Domenico Pirazzoli, Ferretti Group Communication Manager.
Ferretti Yachts New CEO
Maurizio Roman has joined Ferretti Group as CEO of Ferretti Yachts and, ad interim, of the Custom Line and Mochi Craft brands, reporting to Ferretti Group CEO, Vincenzo Cannatelli. Fifty-five year old, Mr Roman comes to Ferretti Group from Technogym, world leader in the sector of fitness and wellness equipment, where he held the position of CEO for five years. Prior to this, he worked as General Manager, in a number of Italian industrial companies in the mechanical sector, including Aprilia Moto, Benetton Sport System and Beretta. I am certain Maurizio will continue to achieve the success he has had so far, commented Cannatelli. His experience and in-depth knowledge of the most dynamic industrial companies will strengthen Ferretti Group, helping it become increasingly better prepared to grow and to deal with the new challenges presented by worldmarkets.
Riva Trophy Conquers Miami
February 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2008: were the three dates for the first, eagerly awaited appointment of the Riva Trophy overseas. For the very first time Riva brought together its American owners, who have made Riva boats their irresistible passion, in one of the country’s most exclusive cities: Miami. It was an exciting weekend during which many curious come to admire the numerous Riva craft moored in the harbor, Miami Beach hosted both Riva’s classic models in wood, “living” witnesses of the company’s long history, as well as the latest innovations and the most recent fiberglass models, among which the 63’ Vertigo and the 75’ Venere Newport Collection, previewed at the latest American boat shows. A rich agenda characterized the three-day-event: excursions to the exclusive and private Fisher Island, competitions such as the reliability race that took place in the splendid setting of the waters off Miami, and relaxing breaks at the most prestigious hotels of the American city, symbol of the avant-garde design. A unique mix of style, play, elegance and amusement able to create convivial occasions and imaginative competitions portrayed the event, involving the participants in different activities scheduled over the three days. Fil rouge of the meeting was obviously Italy. The attendees lived in fact a truly Italian Experience through the competitions, the excursions and, most of all, through the lunch at the “Patio” club and the dinner at a well renowned Italian restaurant. As usual the partners participating to this first Riva American event were Credit Suisse, that involved the guests with a mysterious and exciting treasure hunt in the villas of Fisher Island, Veuve Clicquot, organized a crowded bocce game on the beach, and Vini Pasqua. The Gala Dinner was set in the enchanting Moore Building, former furniture showroom in the Design District and now a suggestive location for art exhibitions and events where is placed a permanent installation made by the famous architect Zaha Hadid, and it concluded the thrilling and sunny weekend with an awards ceremony followed by a dancing night.
Sea Ray Boats Wins 2 Gold Mercury Awards
Sea Ray Boats is pleased to announce that it has won two Gold Mercury Awards, one for its stunning full-line product catalogs and another for its outstanding multi-channel advertising campaign promoting AquaPalooza 2007, the world’s largest on-water celebration. The Gold status makes each entry eligible for the Best of Category and Best of Show awards; both will be announced in mid-March. The Mercury Awards, now in their 21st year, were established with the purpose of advancing high standards of achievement in professional communications. They are administered by MerComm Inc., the world’s only independent awards organization. This year’s competition received nearly 1,000 entries from 23 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Germany, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Sweden, South Africa, Spain and the United States.
Sunseeker Wins Best Brand Award
The Buyout Track 100 best brand award sponsored by The Sunday Times was presented by business editor John Waples to Sunseeker earlier this week at a special awards dinner attended by the owners and directors of Britain’s 100 fastest-growing private equity-backed companies. The second annual Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100, league table ranks Britain's 100 private equity-backed companies with the fastest growing profits over the last two years. Britain’s top private equity-backed company stars were presented with a series of awards, ranging from best brand and best management team, to the top company. Backed by Bank of Scotland Corporate, Sunseeker International is the world’s largest privately-owned yacht builder and the largest producer of motoryachts over 80 feet.
Sunseeker Seeks Recruits
Poole-based boat builder Sunseeker looks set to recruit more than 250 extra workers this year. The expansion, which follows a glut of new boat orders taken at the London Boat Show, comes on top of 300 new jobs at the company in 2007. Most of the newcomers will work at the company's facility at Osprey Quay in Portland.
An important project for the Polish builder, Galeon which with the 640 presents it's biggest build to date for this growing Eastern European company. Designed by famous architect Tony Castro, the 640 will launch Galeon to a demanding clientele size. Accommodation is a spacious 4 cabin 3 heads interior and an aft crew cabin. As this rendering shows the new flagship is a Mediterranean styled motor yacht with an aggressive sports exterior.
The 325 Galeon as the previewed flagship above, continues the Tony Castro relationship for the Polish builder. The 325 is a Mediterranean looking sports cruiser with aggressive exterior lines. Inside accommodation is a 2 cabin interior, single shower head, c-shaped settee and a well sized fully equipped galley. Exterior cockpit is a c-shaped settee with a wetbar to starboard. 
Hard top version for the 325 which keeps the Tony Castro lines and identical accommodation and cockpit layout, but featuring the benefit of an all weather hard top protected cockpit. 
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