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Meet Raphael Sauleau: The CEO Of Fraser Yachts

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The luxury yacht industry is one of the most exclusive in the world . With high-end clients, high-value assets, and impeccable standards, it takes a special person to lead a company in this space. Enter Raphael Sauleau, Fraser Yachts, one of the leading yacht brokerage firms in the world with 75 years of heritage. With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Raphael has become one of the most prominent figures in luxury yachting .

Raphael Sauleau, since he was appointed CEO of Fraser Yachts in 2016, has revolutionized and expanded the company to unprecedented heights by pulling off ingenious business maneuvers.

Raphael Sauleau was born in Angers, France, and showed a keen interest in sports from a young age. He excelled in football and even considered pursuing a professional career. However, he decided to study hospitality and tourism in France , and London. After completing his studies, Raphael became an entrepreneur, running several successful businesses before being drawn to the cruise line industry.

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Raphael spent several years at sea, completing world cruises and gaining valuable experience. During this time, he met his future wife and decided to move back to land. He embarked on a 15-year career with V-Ships, the world's largest maritime services provider. As the Director of Crew Operations, Raphael was responsible for over 60 shore staff and up to 6,500 crew as per Boat International  across V-Ships' various portfolios, including cargo, offshore, cruise, yachting, hotel, and resort. In 2013, Raphael left V-Ships to become the CEO of Parkview Monaco, which managed leading luxury assets.

In 2016, Fraser Yachts was looking for a CEO with UHNW expertise and a unique approach to luxury yachting. Raphael's experience made him the ideal candidate, and he became the company's fifth CEO in a history spanning more than 70 years, as per Haute Living . Since taking on the role, Raphael has overseen the exponential growth of Fraser Yachts' Yacht Management fleet to almost 100 yachts, opening five new offices in Hong Kong, Phuket, TCN Palma, and Barcelona, and an increase in its skilled workforce by over 13%.

As Fraser Yachts' CEO, Raphael has ensured that the company continues to buy and sell more luxury yachts for clients than any other provider. He has also been involved in high-profile yacht sales, showcasing his skills as a skilled negotiator. Raphael's reputation for providing personalized service to his clients has only grown during his time at Fraser Yachts.

Believing in the importance of working together as an industry to serve clients better, Raphael is actively involved with two of the most influential associations in luxury yachting today – LYBRA or Large Yacht Brokers Association, for which he is currently President as per IBI , and MYBA or Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association as Head of the Communications Committee.

Another leading company in the luxury yachting industry has recognized Raphael Sauleau's expertise and leadership skills. In November 2022, Raphael parted ways with Fraser and Yachts. In December, he joined IYC, or International Yacht Company, as its Chief Executive Officer, as per Superyacht Times , responsible for managing its global operations and business activities. With Raphael's strategic vision, IYC is set to achieve growth and efficiency.

Raphael is also committed to promoting sustainability in the industry and has been involved in initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of yachting . He understands that the industry needs to take responsibility for its environmental impact and has actively worked to make a difference.

In conclusion, Raphael Sauleau is a remarkable figure in the luxury yacht industry. With his extensive experience, he has helped Fraser Yachts become one of the world's largest yacht brokerage firms, and his UHNW expertise has enabled him to provide personalized service to his clients. His commitment to promoting sustainability in the industry reflects his genuine concern for the environment. As the new CEO of IYC, he is poised to take on new challenges and continue his impressive track record of success in the yachting industry.

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Sources - Superyacht Times , IBI , Haute Living , Boat International

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CEO Corner: Learning All About That Boat Life With Fraser Yachts CEO Raphael Sauleau

For our latest CEO Corner feature, where Haute Living goes one-on-one with the world’s top CEOs, we’ve featured Raphael Sauleau, the CEO of Fraser Yachts , a world-leader in yacht chartering, brokerage, yacht marketing, yacht management and new builds. With over 25 years in the private wealth and maritime sectors, Raphael has a well-earned reputation for delivering results through skilled people and operations management.

Born in Angers in France’s Loire Valley and a skilled footballer from an early age, Raphael considered a professional career in the sport before opting to study hospitality and tourism in Nice, France and London, England. As an entrepreneur he ran several businesses before the cruise line industry enticed him to sea where he completed several world cruises and met his future wife. Moving back on land, he embarked on what was to become a 15-year stint working for the world’s largest maritime services provider, V-Ships. As Director of Crew Operations, he was responsible for no less than 60 shore staff and up to 8,000 crew across the group’s cargo, offshore, cruise, yachting, hotel and resort portfolios. A rare opportunity to deploy his skills and experience for the benefit of a renowned UHNWI saw him leave V-Ships in 2013 to act as CEO for a Monaco-based Family Office managing leading luxury assets such as the Parkview Private Collection in St Tropez, Monaco, London and Beijing and yachts including the 69m (226′) M/Y SALUZI.

In 2016, Fraser’s search for a CEO with UHNW expertise and an ‘out-of-the-box’ approach to luxury yachting came to a successful conclusion when Raphael became only it’s 5th CEO in a history spanning more than 70 years. Since then Raphael has not only ensured Fraser continues to buy and sell more luxury yachts for clients every year than any other provider, he has also overseen the exponential growth of its Yacht Management fleet to almost 100 yachts, the opening of five new offices (Hong Kong, Phuket, TCN Palma and Barcelona), an increase in its skilled workforce of over 13%, and most recently, the successful purchase from longstanding owners, Azimut/Benetti, by the world’s most successful pleasure boat dealer, the American-based MarineMax.

A firm believer in the value of working together as an industry to better serve clients, Raphael is actively involved with two of the most influential associations in luxury yachting today – LYBRA (Large Yacht Brokers Association) for which he is currently President, and MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) as Head of the Communications Committee.

What do you feel is the secret to your success?

Without sounding too predictable, I would definitely state hard work and belief. Nothing in my childhood nor education predestined me to become CEO of one of the leading yachting companies in the world. However, I have been fortunate to work at sea for many years in different capacities, traveling the 7 seven seas influenced my life, I also came close to true luxury whilst traveling and decided that it would be a world I wanted to grow within. Climbing the professional ladder within several companies applying principals such as hard work, respect of myself and others, teamwork, believing in myself and never taking no for an answer got me where I am today.

What is your number one business “do”?

Do respect everyone. Team members, associates and clients alike.

What is your number one business “don’t?”

Don’t take anything for granted.

How does one become a CEO? What was your path like?

I takes a lots of hard work, discipline but also the capacity to seize opportunities when they arise. I was fortunate enough to seize life changing opportunities that changed my career path. With the support of my family, especially my wife, we took decisions which were certainly risky at first sight and away from my comfort zone, but these revealed themselves to be the right choices. One needs to remember – always study the opportunities and analyze them properly but the train hardly passes twice in a professional life so be sure and not afraid to step on the right one. It will change your life.

What major moment in your career (business-wise) are you proudest of and why?

I do have a few milestones in my career starting with the day I decided to leave a comfortable life at a young age to discover the world. It took some courage at the time, but opened up so many opportunities. After cruising the World and meeting my future wife – I then stepped ashore to start from scratch on a very low income. A strong decision which allowed me to learn the corporate non scholar principals, finance and business ethics. These have been helping me all along. Years passing by – I climbed up the corporate ladder and reached a managerial position at the age of 30 with hundreds of employees under my team’s management. Then an Asian tycoon offered me my first CEO position to open and manage his family office and assets. This was a real accelerator in my professional development and yet a real eye opener on the UHNWI world. Of course, joining Fraser was another milestone and an opportunity to grow and develop a business in a very competitive environment, however still a relatively young industry growing at a fast pace. Exciting and motivating challenges within and outside our company.

How do you keep Fraser evolving?

Trying to stay ahead of the game without jeopardizing our company’s heritage (over 75 years in the business) and its’s strong business principles and ethics. It can be challenging however with the support of my management team, extraordinary staff members and associates, we exchange a lot and analyze the new and future trends including generational shifts, technology and others, to be at the forefront of the pack. Not only must we remain visible to the marketplace, but moreover ensure that we adapt when necessary, so that our existing clientele remains engaged and we also attract new customers. The pandemic together with the overall wealth growth have had a real impact on our industry, Fraser welcomed over 40% of new customers last year. We are definitely doing something right but the competition is tough and keeps us on our toes.

What do you do when something doesn’t succeed?

We go back to its roots and analyze the possible reason for its failure. It is a team review and discussion – we however give it a chance to succeed but are not stubborn to carry on if all lights are red.

What new launches can you speak to?

We are investing in our IT and digital structure by launching a new CRM as well as developing a new web site. This comes in addition of many investments in Tech marketing. However, I still believe in the touch and feel elements, so we also kept and launched several printed materials. Last but not least, with the support of our shareholders, we are looking at possible acquisitions to ease and speed up our current strong organic growth.

What tips do you have for burgeoning business owners?

• Important to keep or create your brand personality and develop a strategic business plan, organizational structure, and operational support systems.
• Become connected to the community and put your employees first. It is key to analyze your competitors and protect your cash flow.
• Last but not least, know what you stand for.

What to you is the greatest luxury in life and why?

Time, because it goes fast and cannot be bought.

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CEO chat: Fraser’s Kurten on impact, goals & leadership

Anders Kurten describes himself as a “pathological optimist”  whose role is to  “nurture and protect the trust”  of his people and clients.

He became CEO, Fraser Yachts in September 2023 after a long history of management, strategy and product positions in the marine industry, IT and beyond.

Previously the CEO of Baltic Yachts in Finland, Kurten opens up to Superyacht Investor on his impact, the yachting landscape, headwinds, opportunities and his leadership philosophy.

What impact have you made so far and how could Fraser be doing better in the current market? At our core, we’re a people-centric business. We operate in an environment of extreme scarcity where everything and everyone is one-of-one, from the yachts and our brokers to the owners, buyers, sellers and charterers, so trust is our most valuable asset. It is forged through genuine, one-on-one connections.

My role is to nurture and protect this trust, a cornerstone of our company’s values. Internally and externally, we prioritise client interests over short-term gains. Our commitment to go the extra mile is unwavering to facilitate a transaction, ensure a seamless charter experience or simplifying yacht ownership making it predictable and hassle-free. So, I find myself in the very fortunate position to truly have an ambitious, high-performing team – which in a sense makes my job if not easy, easier.

There is always room for improvement. I believe in building on strengths to achieve excellence and that has been our focus lately. Joining a high-performing company has allowed me to concentrate on refining processes and fostering a unified culture. This is an ongoing challenge given our global reach, diverse workforce and wide range of services.

As to tangible major milestones over the past months, I would maybe pick out opening our new office in London in April, as well as recently establishing Fraser Yachts Greece in Athens.

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What are the headwinds and what have you done to mitigate those? The sales brokerage market softened in 2024, while charter and yacht management remained steady, even growing. Despite industry challenges, we focused on the nuts and bolts, and our sales brokerage division actually bucked the trend year-on-year, significantly outperforming the market.

As to the overall perception of headwinds, this to me relates to global macro factors, as general uncertainty usually is not conducive for our business. How the global geopolitical situation develops is out of our hands, but I am fundamentally an optimist and believe and hope that we will face an environment with slightly less uncertainty going into 2025. While short-term fluctuations occur, the long-term outlook for yachting remains positive. The overall appetite for yachting is not diminishing, quite to the contrary.

Also, analysing industry performance requires a long-term perspective. Given the relatively low volume of transactions and normal variance and fluctuations even without macro level drivers behind them, quarterly or annual comparisons can be misleading. A more accurate picture emerges when examining longer-term trends.

How do you assess the brokerage landscape ? Over the past decade, the larger players have become significantly more professional and structured in their approach, which is a great thing, especially considering the influx of new owners and charterers the industry saw during the pandemic and even after it. Given many of these owners don’t have a wealth of first-hand experience, providing expert guidance on the complexities of superyacht ownership becomes increasingly crucial. Having the necessary expertise readily available in-house is essential.

Strong industry associations like MYBA and LYBRA will remain pivotal for ongoing progress in the industry because many of the challenges we face are shared by all. These platforms provide invaluable opportunities to collaborate, share experiences and address common challenges.

READ: ‘I wasn’t a great yacht broker’ – Bob Denison 

What opportunities are you most excited about? From a managerial perspective over the years, it has become incredibly rewarding to foster an environment that cultivates individual growth. Witnessing team members ascend is truly gratifying, from entry-level roles into a junior broker, or when someone already on the management level takes the step up to director and becomes a part of the management team.

In terms of business opportunities, I truly believe our emphasis on diversity within the brokerage community remains a cornerstone of our success. Referring back to my thoughts on our environment, in a market characterised by limited availability, a varied team enhances our ability to forge meaningful connections and build lasting relationships based on trust. These strong bonds often lead to invaluable referrals.

Speaking specifically about “pins on the map”, I am also particularly excited about our expansion into the Eastern Mediterranean. Our new Fraser Greece office in Athens has made a strong start and I see immense potential for growth in this region. Elsewhere, we have managed to attract some key brokerage talent, with both younger and more seasoned brokers joining the team lately in Europe as well as the US.

Then looking further, there are so many opportunities in terms of developing our digital tools that are already ongoing.

READ: ‘The word yacht management is misunderstood’

What are your goals for Fraser? Obviously being American-owned the goal has to be world domination! On a more serious note, our purpose in and of itself is to continue to be the best. Our focus lies in delivering exceptional service and being the best partner to both existing and new clients, because frankly, I do not think our clients care about working with the biggest, they just want to work with the best. This unwavering commitment to client satisfaction is fundamental to our ambition.

At Fraser, we understand that excellence in service cannot be pre-crafted or stored; every interaction is created in the moment, making our commitment to deliver top-tier service to demanding clients a continuous, 24/7 endeavour. This is why we strive to make Fraser a great place to work for all our employees and brokers, ensuring they have the best environment in which to excel and provide exceptional service.

READ: Goldsworthy: ‘ I thought I ’ d been absolutely brilliant’

What is the key to leading a company such as Fraser and what learnings have you brought to it? This gets a little bit philosophical, but I will attempt to succinctly summarise my management philosophy. There are a couple of main themes that I tend to revert to in terms of leadership that to me in many ways are industry-agnostic best practices.

One is  communication . Be honest, frank and to the point. If you know something, share it. If you do not know – admit it and figure it out if you can. Even if you do not have all the answers, in most cases you can share your “hot take” on whatever the topic at hand is.

Another theme is  respect . Respect rather than fear. Like a bank account, goodwill must be earned before it can be drawn upon. I’ve found that respect, rather than authority or intimidation, is the key to unlocking a team’s full potential.

A third theme, not surprisingly, is  trust . Unlike the divisive approach of management guru Jim Collins, who speaks of categorising people as  “ ON ”  or  “ OFF ”  the bus, I believe in fostering an environment where team members feel secure and supported; to me it is imperative that your team members know you will not throw them UNDER the bus. They deserve not only strategic leadership but also ethical guidance. It is essential that my team trusts I won’t jeopardise their position.

And then one last simple thing;  make yourself available . I have this rule that when my office door is open anyone can walk in without warning. Firstly, because the serendipity of face-to-face encounters is greatly underestimated. Secondly, because many things can actually most efficiently be dealt with on the spot. Despite the geographical distribution of our offices, I make it a priority to regularly visit our larger locations with significant headcounts. This allows me to connect with as many team members as possible, ensuring a strong and unified company culture.

So in summary: Communicate.  A lot . Be respect-worthy – and you shall get it back with interest. Foster a culture of trust and be there for your staff – let them know that they matter. And put yourself on the line by being available.

READ: Why revolution could be in the air for yacht broking

Where do you see the superyacht industry in 5/10 years’ time? I find that being a pathological optimist is certainly helpful in this industry, but even when I put my more analytical hat on and temper my private enthusiasm, I see the sector growing.

The yachting industry is experiencing a golden age of innovation. Shipyards are pushing boundaries with sustainable propulsion systems and ground-breaking interior designs, offering unprecedented opportunities for new-build projects. Even older yachts can benefit from these advancements through technological upgrades becoming more readily available and adopted. The fascinating thing about technology in general is that the pace of development has never been as fast as it is today, but at the same time, in the future, it will never be as slow as it is today.

Moreover, advancements in connectivity, such as Starlink, are revolutionising life on board and extending the time spent afloat – and this really goes for both owner’s private use as well as extended charter. Owners and charterers can now stay connected virtually anywhere, blurring the lines between work and leisure. So owners could even run board meetings sailing across the Atlantic.

When we combine the above with the seemingly insatiable appetite for ever more experience-oriented travel and lifestyles, I think we are looking forward to some really positive years ahead of us.

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Raphael Sauleau Appointed CEO Of Fraser Yachts

By Ben Roberts

Fraser Yachts has today announced the appointment of new CEO Raphael Sauleau, who is set to officially join the group on the 4th of April.

After taking considerable time searching for the right person to take on the role, Roberto Giorgi, the Executive Chairman of Fraser Yachts, has appointed Raphael Sauleau as the new CEO.

Mr Sauleau previously worked for fifteen years at VShips, the world’s largest global maritime service provider, first as Executive Director of Crew Operations for the leisure division worldwide and at a later stage also of the Cargo Division in Monaco where he was in charge of 60 shore staff and 6,500 crew members.

At the end of 2013 he left VShips to become the CEO of a Family Office for an UHNWI in Monaco, operating a number of properties for the Parkview Private Collection in St Tropez, Monaco, London and Beijing and several yachts including the mega yacht Saluzi.

Mr Sauleau said “I am delighted to be appointed as CEO of Fraser Yachts which has been at the forefront and leading the yachting industry for so many years. It is a real honour to work together with Roberto Giorgi again and join the Fraser family. The consistent performance of Fraser Yachts throughout the years is a result of hard work, vision and dedication from all involved stakeholders. I am looking forward to taking the helm and pursuing our quest for excellence to deliver the ultimate service to our valuable existing and future customers.”

Roberto Giorgi, Executive Chairman of Fraser Yachts added “Having worked with Raphael for many years, I have always appreciated his work commitment, creative attitude, team spirit, ethics and passion. My goal will be to coach, guide and mentor Raphael during 2016 and ensure that he continues to develop the new strategies for the company that I have been working on with the Board of Directors for the last 18 months.”

Mr Giorgi will continue in his role as Chairman, dedicating more time to strengthening the management team further and focussing on yachting industry issues. 

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New CEO for Fraser Yachts

Fraser Yachts has appointed Anders Kurtén as CEO.

Anders joins the Fraser team with more than 25 years of management, sales, marketing, and product development experience across both the marine and luxury sectors, including as CEO of Baltic Yachts in Finland.

“We have conducted one of the most extensive worldwide searches ever in our objective of seeking out the right profile for the role of CEO at Fraser,” said Chuck Cashman on behalf of the board of Fraser Yachts. “Anders comes with an in-depth and pragmatic understanding of the yachting and luxury sectors, a knowledge and passion for the Internet of Things and its application for greater client service and support, and a track record for delivering sustained growth through hands-on team inspiration and drive.”

Anders said: “This is a great opportunity to join a company that I have always admired and considered the benchmark of excellence.”

He added: “With so many recent quantum leaps in sustainable technologies, materials, and processes, it is a truly exciting time to be a part of this industry. The coming years will bring great things – and I am firmly convinced that our joint future will be forever greener.”

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By SuperyachtNews 31 Aug 2023

Fraser Yachts appoints Anders Kurtén as CEO

The former baltic yachts ceo joins the firm after an extensive search to find a suitable leader for the 76-year-old brokerage….

Chuck Cashman, on behalf of the Fraser Yachts Board, says the decision to appoint the Finnish executive comes after “one of the most extensive worldwide searches ever” to find a leader with a fitting profile.

“I am pleased to say we didn’t need to compromise on any of our core criteria,” he says. “Anders comes with an in-depth and pragmatic understanding of the yachting and luxury sectors, a knowledge and passion for the Internet of Things (IoT) and its application for greater client service and support, and a track record for delivering sustained growth through hands-on team inspiration and drive.”

In his previous role at Baltic Yachts, he helped spearhead and execute the company’s recent strategic turnaround to deliver the respected and much sought-after brand that it is today, adds Cashman.

With a background in IT solutions-based services and the approaches of the IoT (the collective network of connected devices), Kurtén has a track record in applying that knowledge to start-ups and mature brands alike throughout his 25 years of management. 

“This is a great opportunity to join a company that I have always admired and considered the benchmark of excellence,” says Kurtén. “With so many recent quantum leaps in sustainable technologies, materials, and processes, it is a truly exciting time to be a part of this industry. The coming years will bring great things - and I am firmly convinced that our joint future will be forever greener.”

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FRASER Yachts CEO Raphael Sauleau Talks Green Yachting And Industry Trends

Leading the way in the luxury yachting industry is Raphael Sauleau , Chief Executive Officer of  FRASER Yachts . With over 25 years in the private wealth and maritime sectors, Sauleau joined FRASER in 2016, becoming the fifth CEO in a history spanning more than 70 years. Since then, Sauleau has not only ensured FRASER continues to buy and sell more luxury yachts for clients every year but also oversees the exponential growth of its yacht management fleet.

As a firm believer in the value of working together as an industry to better serve clients, Sauleau is actively involved with two of the most influential associations in luxury yachting today— LYBRA (Large Yacht Brokers Association) for which he is currently President, and MYBA (Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association) as Head of the Communications Committee.

We sat down with Sauleau to talk about industry trends and green yachting.

Can you tell us about YERSIN? It sounds like such an interesting concept.

YERSIN was designed and built with sustainability and recycling in mind throughout – in all materials and processes used in both the construction and in the interior (ex: Zero emissions and Bureau Veritas Clean Ship Classified, optimized fuel burning through diesel-electric propulsion, optimization water management system with high tech water treatment and recycling, hull coated with anti-stick silicone, no biocide, etc) – even to the point of factoring in her recyclability at the end of her life span. She is the ultimate (and rarest) peace of mind for her next owner who not only wants adventure, exploration and fun but who cares about the footprint they leave behind them.

YERSIN seems like a yacht that can go practically anywhere. Do you predict there will be more charters or yachts designed to take individuals to remote parts of the world such as the Arctic?

YERSIN is the most advanced and sustainable explorer of a generation. She was developed to face the most challenging expedition programs in all weather and all conditions in the utmost comfort and style and accommodates up to 18 guests. She has a range of over 15,000 nautical miles, she is ICE-classed, GREEN and CLEAN SHIP CERTIFIED…so yes, she can go practically anywhere and not leave a damaging footprint behind her. She aligns adventure and exploration with sustainability and positive impact.

There is an appetite for clients to go beyond the usual Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising grounds. An increasing number of clients are now booking charters or taking their vessels to Northern Europe and Antarctica for example. There is an increasing number of so-called “explorer yachts” at sea today – and around 40 in build at the moment. But most, at best, pay lip service to the true concept. They have the look without the substance – most are not ice-classed and offer only short ranges. There are not many, like YERSIN, built to properly explore these regions safely and with the environment so high on the agenda.

Why is green yachting important to you?

I think today a green lifestyle is important for everyone. For almost everyone who enjoys quality time at sea, the whole reward is being part of nature, escaping from the material, seeing the world from a whole new perspective. That reward goes hand-in-hand with taking responsibility to all play our part in protecting that very environment. There are lots of excellent initiatives being undertaken today by owners, crew, shipyards, designers and engineers to improve still further on the sustainability and impact of yachts and yachting – everything from replacing materials with recycled or replenishable options, introducing highly improved fuel consumption, hydro-electric propulsion, onboard recycling systems, solar-powered systems, all the way down to simply not using single-use plastics.

As the world becomes more aware of climate change, do you think you will push green/efficient yachting to clients?

If you push, then people just push back. It is more about encouragement. An increasing number of our charter yachts are now carbon offsetting, eliminating single-use plastics, paying attention to where they drop anchor and so forth. As a company, Fraser has always been respectful of our footprint, our work processes and materials. Every year, we add new initiatives to our promise. Today we are finalizing initiatives to carbon offset more flights and travel, we continue to implement sustainable materials on all our collateral and encourage our clients to do the same.

Where do you see the luxury yachting industry evolving in the next 5 or so years?

As a natural continuation of all the initiatives today. Increasingly owners and charter guests are choosing yachts based on their environmental initiatives and qualities – this is something designers and shipbuilders are really able to focus on today. So often in years gone by, cost and reduced performance of more sustainable solutions have outweighed the perceivable benefits of going with them for some owners. Today, that is no longer the case. Owners get it today. In fact, they not only get it…they expect their vessels to be environmentally innovative. It’s great news.

What’s a trend you’re seeing in 2020 with yachts and the yachting experience?

More clients are asking about and choosing yachts based on their green and clean credentials, so we expect to see even more yachts introduce even more sustainable and environmentally positive initiatives

What do you think are the top yachting destinations this year?

Despite the increasing demand for going farther afield, the Mediterranean and Caribbean remain, by far, the most popular destinations – and the truth is, both areas have so much variety with stunning cruising, diving, watersports, dining, partying, exploration, cultural and site-seeing options, along with second-to-none yachting & client facilities and easy access for most people. It is hard to see how any other areas of the world could compete with the wealth of opportunity and reward on offer. That said, now the tax laws have changed for Australia. That really is a destination that we believe is on the cusp of growing exponentially. South East Asia will probably now also gain momentum as an alternative destination to the Caribbean allowing a year-end activity away from the “traditional destinations.”

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New CEO for Fraser Yachts

Roberto Giorgi, Executive Chairman of Fraser Yachts , has completed his search for a new company CEO by appointing Raphael Sauleau to the role.

Both men share a common background in having formerly worked for V. Ships where Raphael Sauleau was executive director of crew operations for the leisure division worldwide. This role meant he was in charge of 60 shore staff and 6,500 crew members.

At the end of 2013 he left V. Ships and spent the intervening years as CEO of a family office for an Ultra High Net Worth Individual in Monaco.

Giorgi said: “Having worked with Raphael for many years, I have always appreciated his work commitment, creative attitude, team spirit, ethics and passion. My goal will be to coach, guide and mentor Raphael during 2016 and ensure that he continues to develop the new strategies for the company that I have been working on with the Board of Directors for the last 18 months.”

Sauleau added that he was "delighted" to have been given the new role working for the firm "which has been at the forefront and leading the yachting industry for so many years".

"It is a real honour to work together with Roberto Giorgi again and join the Fraser family," he said. "The consistent performance of Fraser Yachts throughout the years is a result of hard work, vision and dedication from all involved stakeholders. I am looking forward to taking the helm and pursuing our quest for excellence to deliver the ultimate service to our valuable existing and future customers.”

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