Leading Executives in Ships and Boats
Pierroberto Folgiero
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Managing Director. , Fincantieri S.p.A.
Turnaround-focused CEO credited with returning Fincantieri to profit in 2024 and being reconfirmed by the Board for the 2025–2027 term; driving growth in defense and new “Underwater” tech segments.
Website | LinkedIn (company) | Press/Media
Pierre Éric Pommellet
Président-Directeur Général (Chairman & CEO). , Naval Group
Veteran defense executive overseeing France’s state-backed naval champion, with initiatives spanning submarines, surface combatants and STEM pipeline advocacy.
Arnout Damen
Chief Executive Officer. , Damen Shipyards Group
Second-generation leader modernizing one of Europe’s largest family-owned shipbuilders, pushing sustainability and digitalization across a 55-company global network.
Zhang Yingdai
Chairman. , China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC)
Heads the world’s largest shipbuilder by output, steering China’s state-owned giant through record orderbooks and export growth.
Chung Ki-sun (Kisun Chung)
Executive Vice Chairman (Group). , HD Hyundai (Group)
Group scion driving strategy across Korea’s shipbuilding empire (Hyundai Heavy Industries, etc.), with major bets on autonomy (Avikus), LNG and U.S. partnerships.
Choi Sung-an
Vice Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. , Samsung Heavy Industries
Senior Samsung leader elevated to vice chairman and CEO to restore profitability and push eco-friendly ship tech and offshore wind structures.
Kwon Hyuk-woong (Hyek-woong Kwon)
Chief Executive Officer. , Hanwha Ocean (formerly DSME)
Guiding DSME’s integration into Hanwha and expanding globally, including a U.S. push for naval work via acquisitions and yard modernization.
Yukito Higaki
President (Chairman: Toshiyuki Higaki). , Imabari Shipbuilding
Leads Japan’s largest shipbuilder by tonnage; key figure in consolidation that strengthened Japan’s competitiveness versus Korea and China.
Oliver Burkhard
Chief Executive Officer (CEO). , TKMS (thyssenkrupp Marine Systems)
Steering Germany’s submarine and naval-systems powerhouse through rebranding and a planned spin-off/IPO to capitalize on Europe’s defense upcycle.
Christopher D. Kastner
President & Chief Executive Officer. , HII (Huntington Ingalls Industries)
Runs America’s largest military shipbuilder (Newport News & Ingalls), advancing carrier and amphib programs and expanding unmanned and C5ISR offerings.
Mark Rayha
President. , General Dynamics Electric Boat
New EB president leading the Columbia- and Virginia-class submarine ramp-up and major workforce growth across New England.
David Carver
President (and GD Vice President). , General Dynamics NASSCO
Veteran yard leader overseeing U.S. Navy auxiliaries and Jones Act commercial builds at America’s largest West Coast shipyard.
David M. Foulkes
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer. , Brunswick Corporation
Marine recreation giant’s top executive, now also chairman, driving propulsion (Mercury), boat brands (Boston Whaler, Sea Ray) and shared access (Freedom Boat Club).
Website | LinkedIn (company) | Press/Media
Bruno Thivoyon
Chief Executive Officer. , Groupe Beneteau
CFO-turned-CEO leading the world’s largest leisure-boat maker through its ‘Let’s Go Beyond!’ plan and circular-composites push.
Website | LinkedIn (company) | Press/Media
Alberto Galassi
Chief Executive Officer. , Ferretti Group
High-profile superyacht CEO expanding a multi-brand luxury portfolio (Riva, Pershing, etc.) and signaling M&A appetite to scale further.
Marco Valle
Chief Executive Officer. , Azimut|Benetti Group
Lifelong Azimut sales leader elevated to Group CEO, accelerating innovation and sustainability across the world’s largest private yachting group.
Andrea Frabetti
Chief Executive Officer. , Sunseeker International
Naval architect-turned-CEO who doubled product range and spearheaded award‑winning “Ocean” platform for the iconic British brand.
Will Green
Chief Executive Officer. , Princess Yachts
Longtime commercial leader appointed CEO in 2023, stabilizing and repositioning the storied British yard under new ownership.
Peter Lürssen
Managing Director (one of the company’s MDs). , Lürssen
Family principal and managing director at the German superyacht powerhouse famed for record-breaking, highly bespoke builds.
Jan‑Bart Verkuyl
Chief Executive Officer, Royal Van Lent (Feadship director). , Feadship (Royal Van Lent)
Royal Van Lent CEO and Feadship director driving the brand’s sustainability leadership, including the launch of the first hydrogen fuel‑cell superyacht (Project 821).
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