The full list of speakers at the 2011 Superyacht Design Symposium is below:
Nigel Campbell, Chairman, Superyacht Design Symposium
Nigel Campbell is an international mediator, conference facilitator and journalist. He has brought his experience to bear on projects as far ranging as a series of complex public consultation meetings regarding a major oil and gas infrastructure project in eastern Russia to facilitating a landmark international symposium on Tsetse Fly control in Kenya.
He works extensively in the transport and energy sectors where he regularly chairs debates between CEOs of European rail and utility companies and officials of the European Commission on matters of competition and regulation. He has worked extensively during the past 15 years as a mediator and conference facilitator at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development and the International Energy Agency. As a journalist, Mr. Campbell has contributed to the travel pages of The Telegraph newspaper and is currently writing a novel inspired by his work with international organizations in Africa.
He is delighted to be invited to chair the Superyacht Design Symposium as sailing and the sea have always been close to his heart. Much of his childhood was spent yachting in the Solent and cruising along the south coast of England and Ireland.
Federico Bennewiz, Viareggio Superyachts
Born in Viareggio in 1960, Mr. Bennewitz turned his love of science into the study of aeronautical engineering at Pisa University. His first job in 1987 was with RINA and the following year he moved to Perini Navi where he first worked in structural design and 3D modeling and was then promoted to project manager, which also involved dealing with clients and after sales service.
Taking a four-year break from the “frenetic nautical world,” he worked in industrial engineering and with Navionics in the development of chart plotters. His returned to the nautical world first to Navalia Construction sand then to San Lorenzo as production manager. Eight years ago he began his journey with Viareggio Superyachts where he is currently general manager.
James Bento, Ocean Marine Yacht Center
Jim Bento is a native of New England and started sailing at the age of 10. His career began as a navigator in the U.S. Coast Guard, which next led him to qualify as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine. This experience later found him working as captain of various privately owned megayachts until 1989 when he decided to start his own marine service business in the middle of the Atlantic seaboard.
As a captain, Mr. Bento planned and supervised many refits and repairs, which allowed him to observe the strengths and weaknesses of various yards and how each yard addressed the needs of the vessel’s captain and owner. As a result of these experiences, he decided to build a yacht yard that addressed these concerns and constructed a facility with a 1,250-ton Syncrolift, a state-of-the-art climate controlled paint building and the most environmentally advanced containment systems and controls.
Dr Ed Bosarge, S/Y Marie
A yacht owner and competitive sailor, Dr. Ed Bosarge began his career at IBM working on the flight control systems for the NASA Saturn 1-B and Saturn V programs and later on quantitative analysis of financial markets. He also served as a math faculty member at Rice University from 1969-1972. In 1986, Dr. Bosarge founded The Frontier Companies where he further developed predictive financial market technologies for automated trading.
Dr. Bosarge is the founder and CEO of Capital Technologies, Inc., which manages a number of operating companies, foundations and investment companies. Capital Technologies has constructed the first off-grid solar/wind-powered island in the Bahamas. Over Yonder Cay will be the first Blue Zone resort. It will contain a wellness center focusing on Stem Cell Technology.
He is chairman and co-founder of Houston-based Quantlab Group, one of the world’s largest high frequency trading firms.
Fluent in both German and English, Dr. Bosarge holds B.S. and M.S. Degrees in Applied Mathematics from the Georgia Institute of Technology as well as a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Brown University. He is on the Board of Visitors of MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, Texas.
He is married to actress and singer Marie Bosarge and they live in Houston, Texas.
Horacio Bozzo, Axis Group Yacht Design
A cosmopolitan Argentinian designer, naval architect and marine engineer, Horacio Bozzo now lives and works from his ancestral home in Tuscany.
He began his design career in Rome before going to the United States where he worked for six years in a high-profile Fort Lauderdale design studio. It was in Fort Lauderdale, one of the hubs of American yachting, that Horacio Bozzo set up the Axis Group Yacht Design studio in 1996.
Moving to Viareggio, Italy, in 2001, he established a close working relationship with yards such as Perini Navi, Picchiotti, Benetti, Azimut, Rossinavi, Codecasa, VSY, Kingship and Sanlorenzo.
In 2011 Axis Group opened a new overseas office in Shanghai, based at the Jin Mao Tower, the fifth tallest building in the world.
Philipe Briand, Briand Yacht Design
Born into a family where sailing and racing formed part of a strong family tradition, Philippe Briand quickly excelled to become a skilled helmsman, winning two World Championships during the 1980s. His love of racing yachts led him to design his first sailboat at age 16 and pursue naval architecture. Since qualifying as a naval architect, he has designed a number of high performance sailing yachts, winning a Design of the Year award three times. To date, more than 10,000 boats have been built based on designs by Philippe Briand in France, Great Britain, Sweden, Holland, Germany, Italy, the U.S., New Zealand and Japan.
As a result of his experience and in-depth knowledge of hydrodynamics, he was invited to design efficient motor yachts for Vitruvius Yachts. From the very beginning, the most basic tenet of his designs for Vitruvius Yachts Ltd., has been his determination to ensure efficiency and sustainability through an optimal hull design. Mr. Briand Philippe heads up the design teams in London and in La Rochelle, France. He lives in London.
David Easton, David Easton Interiors
David Easton is among the world’s most sought-after interior designers. While he has made his name as a neo-classicist, his knowledge of architecture and decoration is wide-ranging.
Mr Easton received his architecture degree from Pratt Institute in 1963, where he studied with Sibyl Moholy-Nagy, widow of one of the founders of the Bauhaus School. Upon graduation, he received the Fontainebleau scholarship, which enabled him to study in Europe. Returning to New York, he took a position with designer Edward Wormley, whose Dunbar furniture line is now part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. In 1967, he joined the venerable firm of Parish-Hadley, where he worked in both the architecture and decoration departments and became “seduced by decoration.” Easton founded his own firm in 1972, and quickly gained recognition for his opulent, classically inspired traditional interiors.
In recent years, he has shifted to a more streamlined, contemporary aesthetic—a response to his own tastes and those of his clients. “It’s necessary to move forward,” says Easton. “I see a desire to simplify life, and for simpler interiors. I think the future will be about a more intelligent use of resources and a more intelligent support of lifestyles.”
In addition to his residential work, Easton has designed collections for Lee Jofa (fabrics and upholstered furniture), Safavieh (carpets), Guy Chaddock (furniture), Walters Wicker (outdoor furniture), Cole and Son Ltd. (wallpaper), and Visual Comfort (lighting).
Mr. Easton was named to the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1992, and has twice been presented with Classical America’s Arthur Ross Award. Most recently, his peers honored him with the “Lifetime Achievement” Award at London’s Design and Decoration Awards. Architectural Digest has included him in its Top 100 Designers in the World a record nine times.
Henning Fehrmann, Fehrmann Metallverarbeitung
After studying both industrial engineering and business both in Germany and the U.S., Henning Fehrmann returned to Hamburg, Germany, to be part of the fifth generation of his family operating Fehrmann Metallverarbeitung.
This 116-year-old company focuses on custom solutions for its customers and is well renowned for tailor-made, innovative windows and glass doors for superyachts and special vessels and is accepted as an expert in design and comfort queries aboard yachts. By the Flushline Principle, developed in 2008, the company has broken new ground – always following its leitmotifs: Experience – Engineering – Excellence.
In 2011, Mr. Henning, who now leads the company, was chosen as Hamburg’s Entrepreneur of the year, together with his father. He is convenor of the committee for windows of the Shipbuilding and Marine Technology Standards Committee/DIN and a member of the ISO working group for windows and doors for large yachts.
Kim Franklin, Crown Office Chambers
This leading U.K. trial advocate and specialist engineering projects lawyer is described as “inspiring confidence” with her “clear and lucid style.” It is often said she is a pleasure to work with, unless you are the opposition. Ms. Franklin’s practice embraces the full range of project work in the U.K. Construction Courts and International Arbitration. Its strength lies in its diversity – including claims by high net worth individuals, developers and designers.
She is prominent in large-scale international disputes – most recently involving hotels and marine infrastructure in Dubai. She has also acted for Japanese developers of a U.K. chemical plant, advised in the New Wembley Stadium dispute and represented major development companies in Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia and Antigua.
Ms. Franklin edits Construction Law Journal and provides regular legal commentaries for the U.K. Architect’s Journal. In her spare time she writes fiction.
Ben Harrison, Eidsgaard Design
Ben Harrison is one of Eidsgaard Design’s three directors, joining Peder and Ewa as partner in 2007. Born in Great Britain, he grew up on the river Dart in Devon and has sailed since the age of five. He graduated from Newcastle University with a B.A. in Architecture and has combined these two passions in his work as a yacht designer.
The World Superyacht Awards have acknowledged Eidsgaard Design’s contribution with awards for “Newcomer of the Year” and “Best Sailing Yacht 45m+” in 2009, and “Best R-fit” in 2011 for its work on Angel’s Share. Mr. Harrison is also incredibly proud of the firm’s latest launch, the 255-foot Feadship Tango, for which Eidsgaard Design was responsible for both interior design and exterior styling.
Tim Heywood, Tim Heywood Design
Tim Heywood established his own studio with partner Vanessa Reville 15 years ago and during the intervening period has been the driving force behind such yachts as Ice, Kogo, Phocea, Pelorus, Carinthia VII, Limitless, Perfect Prescription, Al Mirqab, Mayan Queen IV, Dilbar, Radiant and the Amels Limited Editions series.
Concentrating on the overall concept of the yachts and the detail design of their exteriors, he now works with the world’s top interior designers to bring his projects to completion, which allows him to concentrate on the sculptural forms that are a strong feature of his work. Currently, Mr. Heywood is currently working with yards in Holland, Italy, Germany and Australia.
Wayne Huizenga Jr, Rybovich
H. Wayne Huizenga, Jr. is the President of Huizenga Holdings, Inc., a diversified company that manages the Huizenga Family-owned private businesses and real estate. He is also Chairman of the Board of Rybovich, a superyacht marina and refit facility in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in business in 1985 and has used these skills to assist a number of charitable foundations including the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward County. He is founder and a member of the board of directors for the Christian Community Foundation of South Florida.
He is a member of Trinity Forum’s Board of Advisors and Lifework Leadership National Advisory Board and a member of the Advisory Committee for Door of Hope Outreach, Inc.
He is also a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, Florida Chapter; a member, presenter and advisor of PathNorth and a member of the CEO Forum.
Mr. Huizenga, Jr. married his childhood sweetheart, Fonda Hix, in 1991. They have four children: Savannah, Tres (Wayne, III), Gerritt and Ainsley.
Glade Johnson, formerly of Glade Johnson Design
Glade Johnson has worked in the design field for 42 years. In 1969, after graduating from Art Center College of Design, Mr. Johnson worked for Chrysler and Ford for four years. In 1973, he relocated to Seattle to design custom interiors for Boeing’s executive aircraft program.
In 1987 he formed his own firm, Glade Johnson Design, Inc. In 25 years, the firm created 32 yachts ranging in size from 103 feet to 332 feet. Twenty-four were new builds and eight were rebuilds. GJDI was known for yachts such as Attessa I, II, III, and IV (Washington Yachting Group), Solemates, Oasis and Capri (Lurssen), Excellence I, Double Haven, Iroquois and Andiamo (Feadship), Georgia (Alloy Yachts), Ranger (Royal Denship), and Flamingo Daze (Hakoort).
In January 2011 Mr. Johnson decided to close his full-service frim and is now providing limited design consulting under his new firm, “GLADE JOHNSON.”
Jukka Kaukonen, K&K Superyachts
Jukka Kaukonen is one of the two partners at K&K Superyachts. Born in Helsinki, Finland, he grew up on the lakes of Finland and coast of the Baltic Sea and began his sailing career at age six on his Optimist dinghy. His professional career began at 15 as deck hand onboard an 82- foot classic gaff ketch. He graduated from the Military Academy of Finland with a Master’s degree. After graduation, Mr. Kaukonen left Finland to pursue an international yachting career and quickly found himself as a superyacht captain before moving into shore-based positions in management and supervision of new build and refit projects. Following his two-year stint at a brokerage company, he founded K&K Superyachts in Monaco together with his brother, Vesa.
One of the first projects that K&K Superyachts sold and project managed was a 174-foot Feadship called Elisabeth F. Following a 10-month refit at Pendennis shipyard, Elisabeth F was awarded “Best Refit” at the Showboats Design Awards in 2008. The latest K&K Superyachts refit project is Angel’s Share, a Wally that was refitted at Lürssen and won her category in the World Superyacht Awards earlier this year.
Robert Kertell, Robert A. Kertell Int. Yacht Styling & Interiors
Robert Kertell was senior project manager for 17 years with Glade Johnson Design Inc. His projects included four sailing yachts and more than a dozen motor yachts. Notable among them are the 135-foot re-creation of the J-Class Ranger and the 161-foot cruising yacht Georgia, at one time the largest single-masted sailing yacht in the world. Motor yachts include the Dutch-built Flamingo Daze, and Andiamo built at Feadship. A series of major reconstructions that bear the name Attessa deserve special mention. Their owner loves to take a good vessel and make it great. The four Attessa projects spanned a period of 20 years culminating in the 330-foot Attessa IV, which won a World Superyacht Award in 2011. Mr. Kertell served as project manager for the final three Attessas. He produced many of the final designs and details, and coordinated work with the owner and shipyard. He is now principal of Robert A. Kertell, International Yacht Styling and Interiors.
Steffen Köhl, Mercedes Benz
A graduate of the Pforzheim School for Transportation Design, Mr. Köhl has been working since 1988 within the Mercedes-Benz passenger car design division for interior and exterior design. Amongst his many contributions were vehicles and show cars such as E-Class, CLK, SL, SLR, SLS, Bionic-Car and F800 Style. Since 2008 he has been the leader of the car maker’s Center for Global Advanced Design.
“Creativity should go beyond borders and limits,” he says. “This program offers an outstanding opportunity to do so. I am looking forward to many exciting ideas and designs. Smart in particular offers an inspiring platform for new and fresh design ideas.”
Kirk Lazarus, M/Y Told U So
As the creative visionary behind Molori Design and Molori Private Retreats, Kirk Lazarus is a true luxury lifestyle designer.
Molori Private Retreats began in 2007 when the Molori Safari Lodge, originally built for exclusive use of its owner (Kirk Lazarus), opened to the public. The Molori Private Retreat collection is now comprised of Molori Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa; Molori Clifton, Cape Town, South Africa; Molori Great Barrier Reef, Port Douglas, Australia; Told u So, Molori’s newest super-yacht; and, Molori Beach House, Santa Monica, California, coming soon.
He has designed every aspect of each retreat (architecture, aesthetic, food, service, etc) and has overseen every minute detail. As a result, Molori Design, an interior design and architecture firm, originated from success of the Private Retreats. Many of Molori’s clients LOVED the design aesthetic and service levels that they experienced at the retreats and wanted to recreate that in their lives. As such, Molori Design is now involved in several projects around the globe, including yacht and private plane design, as well exclusive resort properties and private homes.
Molori Design was developed from an insider’s perspective – Kirk lives an ultra-luxurious life and can therefore offer his clients a design aesthetic, caliber of service and attention to detail unmatched by any other design and management team. Luxury, at least the Molori way, is defined through a seamless, turn-key process through which the client immediately assumes ownership.
Ted McCumber, Washington Yachting Group
West Coast native Ted McCumber has been in the marine industry for more 25 years, starting out as captain on commercial tugs and various sailboats, including Stars and Stripes ‘86 and Formula 40 catamarans.
For the last 20+ years he has been a captain for Washington Group on Attessa I, II, III and IV, and the rebuild project manager of the award-winning Attessas II, III and IV.
Currently he is the project manager at Washington Yachting Group based in North Vancouver, BC, Canada. The yard is currently busy with other refit jobs and undertaking customization of private rail cars.
Mauro Parodi, Fincantieri Yachts
Naval Architect and Marine Engineer Mauro Parodi has worked for the Italian shipyard Fincantieri since 1983. Following his first five years working in the research and development departments, he was engaged in project management in naval shipbuilding division of the company. In these roles he experienced a variety of vessels from design through delivery such as fast patrol boats, which incidentally brought his involvement to the Destriero transatlantic speed record project from 1990 to 1991, logistics vessels, hydrographic/oceanographic research vessels, frigates and even submarines. When Fincantieri launched its Yachts division in 2005, Mr. Parodi moved over to that business unit. The first launch from that unit is the 134 meter (439’) Serene.
Carl Persak, Persak & Wurmfeld
Carl Persak is a founding partner of Persak & Wurmfeld, a full service naval architecture firm based in New York City. Recent projects have included a variety of motor and sailing yacht designs, as well as serving as project engineer for the final build year of M/Y Cakewalk. Previously, Mr. Persak ran his own design firm, worked for Sparkman & Stephens in New York City and for Michael Peters Yacht Design in Sarasota, Florida. He also spent several years as a naval architect in the commercial marine sector with Elliott Bay Design Group in Seattle. He holds a Professional Engineer’s license in New York and is a graduate of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture, where he also teaches. He is an avid athlete who pursues sailing, surfing, cycling and has completed four New York City marathons.
Dr Kenneth Reed, Cerion Energy Inc
Dr. Reed is the Chief Technology Officer for Cerion Energy, Inc., a company co-founded with Mick Stadler. Dr. Reed received a B.S. in Chemistry from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1971 and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Stanford University in 1975. Directly upon graduation, he joined the research laboratories of the Eastman Kodak Co. and shifted careers from computational quantum chemistry and spectroscopy to applied research and product development. His 30-year career at Kodak involved applied precipitation research for silver halide crystals and redox mechanisms related to their development. This led to 20 U.S. patents and the introduction of nearly a dozen, high margin, photographic imaging products for the corporation.
On two separate occasions, Dr. Reed led the U.S./French exploratory dispersion research efforts, which produced Nano-thin imaging crystals and other commercial technologies. Just prior to retirement in 2005, work focused on developing patent and technical strategies for the generation and use of monodisperse organic nano-particles for OLED applications. In 2005, Dr. Reed received the Eastman Kodak CTO Distinguished Inventors Award. He is a graduate of The Entrepreneurs Network’s training program. Dr. Reed is an inventor of 10 U.S. Patent disclosures/applications owned by Cerion.
Pascale Reymond, Reymond Langton Design
Pascale Reymond, originally from St Malo, Brittany, moved to the UK in 1986 shortly after graduating from the University of Haute Bretagne with a Degree in History of Art and Archaeology plus a Master Degree with distinction in History of Art from the University of La Sorbonne. Once in London, Pascale also achieved additional experience in the field of interior design and 3D Design with further diplomas from Chelsea College of Art and Kingston University.
Pascale’s experience in yacht design was gained by working in the industry for 11 years before founding Reymond Langton Design with her partner – Andrew Langton.
In the following 10 years they have gone on to successfully deliver over 20 yachts. They also boast an impressive list of yachts under construction with 5 yachts due to be delivered in the next 6 months and an additional 5 yachts over the next 3 years.
Three years ago, due to her love for the city, Pascale opened a second office in Bath, which now acts as the head office for this successful design studio. Pascale, inspired by Bath’s great art scene, has rediscovered her passion and skill for painting. Her motto on life is: Do not wait for good things to happen to you. Shape your own life with your own hands; never be afraid of being judged.
Jan Rozie, Yachtglass
Jan Rozie had worked in the yacht and glass industry for more than 20 years when he took the lead of the newly founded Yachtglass GmbH & Co. KG in 2000. Yachtglass is the marine glazing subsidiary of the 40-year-old Hero-Glas, a famous glass-processing company in northern Germany. During the past 11 years, he has succeeded in new developments by combining state-of-the-art technology and experienced know-how. The reward for these ambitious efforts is an enlarged range of high-tech products dedicated to marine use. Over the few last months Mr. Rozie’s efforts have been focused on the implementation of a fully automated production line that will be finalized before the end of this year. The next challenge, which Yachtglass is already working on, is connected to environmental issues.
Achille Salvagni, Salvagni Architetti
Achille Salvagni was born in Rome and graduated with a degree in architecture from Rome University “La Sapienza” in 1998. He has also had several studying and working experiences in Sweden at Royal Institute of Technology, in Finland and in England.
A member of the National Registered Architects Association in Rome, he opened his studio in 1999. In 2002 he founded SalvagniArchitetti, a multidisciplinary practice firm for architecture and interior design, developing projects for homes, luxury apartments, yachts, hotels and offices.
A self-proclaimed perfectionist, nothing in his work is left to chance; everything is considered and planned down to the last detail.
Each project starts by listening and turning his customers’ dreams into realizable plans. He believes that an interior is not only designed for a client, but also about a client. He applies this rigorous approach with a highly individual touch, contributing an atmosphere of pleasure and calm.
He believes that every individual needs memories, therefore, objects and personal items are essential elements of an interior and thanks to his eclectic eye, he always deals with real elegance and discretion, mixing things that don’t normally belong together.
Ronno Schouten, Feadship/De Voogt Naval Architects
Ronno Schouten has master’s degrees in naval architecture as well as marketing. He worked with several yards involved in commercial projects as well as yacht building before he joined De Voogt Naval Architects in 2003 as manager of yacht services responsible for refits. Thereafter, he became manager of the Naval Architecture department. Currently Mr. Schouten is head of Studio de Voogt, the design department for Feadship. In this position he is responsible for layout, styling and naval architecture of all new projects and for the annual Feadship Concept project.
Peter Southgate, Cayman Islands Shipping Registry
Peter Southgate is a naval architect with more than 28 years of experience in the marine industry, beginning as an apprentice on the south coast of England in 1983. After a period as a surveyor to Lloyd’s Register of Shipping and the U.K. MCA, where he specialized in yachts, he joined the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry (U.K. Office) in January 2003. In August 2006, he was promoted to Deputy Divisional Director, based in George Town, Grand Cayman, where he was in charge of the Survey Section and had primary responsibility for large yacht policy development.
After completing a Qualifying Law Degree in 2009, Mr. Southgate was appointed advisor for maritime policy and legislation development with responsibility legislation in support of international conventions and domestic regulations. In addition, he has the role of shipping master with responsibility for dealing with seafarer employment issues, including dispute resolution.
Tommaso Spadolini, Studio Spadolini
Tommaso Spadolini began designing boats even before he received his architectural degree. He hails from a family of architects beginning with his grandfather, who was designing important public buildings in 1936. His father, according to many in the world of yacht design, revolutionized Italian yachts with the first Akirs made for Cantieri de Pisa shipyards, beginning in 1972.
Mr. Spadolini, who is also a competitive sailor, started doing pencil sketches of boats in 1975, completing his apprenticeship in his father’s studio until 1980.
An important turning point in his career was a fruitful collaboration with the Canados shipyards from 1983 to 1992, where he designed the exterior lines and the interiors of all models from 60 to 80 feet. In the years that followed, he worked with clients and shipyards in Italy, Turkey, Spain, the United Kingdom, Taiwan and France. In 1997 he was chosen to design the 65-knot Fortuna for the King of Spain.
One of the projects in which he was able to “express himself” the most was the 141-foot Baglietto “Nina J..” His latest project is a new 229-footer that he designed for a very unique owner.
Sally Storey, Lighting Design International
Sally Storey, Design Director of Lighting Design International and John Cullen Lighting, is one of the U.K.’s leading lighting experts. Much of her time is spent travelling all over the world to design lighting schemes for individual and corporate clients. She has written three books on the subject of lighting and often contributes to national and international press and design conferences.
Recent projects include lighting for the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, the Sandy Lane in Barbados, Grande Bretagne and King George in Athens, The Savoy, The Haymarket and Threadneedles in London, Four Seasons Hotels in Hampshire, Nice, Geneva, Amman, Prague and Marrakech, the spas at Gleneagles and Loch Lomond, offices for Hammerson, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and Goldman Sachs, casinos such as private members club Fifty in St James’s, London, and Manchester235 and numerous residential properties around the world.
Ms. Storey has worked on a number of yacht projects including the award-winning Northern Star and both the motor and sailing yachts named Twizzle, where she has bought her residential lighting experience to create outstanding lighting schemes. She and her team are currently also working on 220 foot and 246 foot superyachts.
Captain Eugene F. Sweeney, Marshall Islands Yacht Registry
Captain Eugene Sweeney joined IRI in January 2003 following a distinguished career in international maritime services. A business leader with recognized accomplishments in fleet growth and technical innovation, he began his seagoing career with Texaco Inc., and after coming ashore, held a number of domestic and foreign assignments including Manager of Tanker Operations for Texaco’s 24-ship U.S.-flag fleet. After 17 years with Texaco, Capt. Sweeney joined Seabulk International where, over the next 19 years, he held various executive positions, ultimately being appointed President, COO and member of the Board of Directors.
Before joining IRI, he was a principal of Sallyport Marine Services, providing marine consulting and expert witness services. In addition to being a member of the American Bureau of Shipping and the Marine Society of the City of New York, he serves as a Trustee of the Coast Guard Foundation, Director and VP of the Seafarers’ House in Port Everglades and Director of the United States Superyacht Association. Captain Sweeney holds a U.S. Coast Guard Unlimited Master’s license and Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nautical Sciences and Marine Transportation from the State University of New York Maritime College.
Iñigo Toledo, Barracuda Yacht Design
After spending his formative years working alongside design stars such as German Frers and Reichel/Pugh, Iñigo Toledo graduated in Naval Architecture and Design from Southampton College, and is full member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. As Technical Coordinator on no less than two pinnacle America’s Cup campaigns (1992 and 2007), project management responsibilities for the King of Spain’s yacht, Fortuna, and myriad completed sail and motor vessels of both custom and series production, Mr. Toledo can justifiably claim to be among the industry’s most capable interior and exterior designers.
Having taken over the helm of Barracuda Yacht Design in 1989, he and his talented staff have developed an enviable reputation for taking on work of an extremely complex, diverse and challenging nature. One such recent example is the results achieved with project Akalam, a technically challenging 104 foot sailing yacht with no less than 24 large windows in her hull.
Roger Towner, MCA
Hugo van Wieringen, Azure Naval Architects
Hugo van Wieringen was born in Nieuwer-Amstel in the Netherlands into a family who loves sailing, which explains his love for yachts (both sailing and motor) and later his choice for a career. He studied naval architecture at Delft University, obtaining a Master’s Degree in 1981.
Having worked for IHC Holland and IHC Smit, he made the jump to De Voogt Naval Architects in 1986, where he worked as a managing naval architect until 2003. This was the year he decided to make his dream come true and found his own company–Azure Naval Architects. This independent design/naval architecture office for motor yacht design, interior styling, engineering and consultancy began with five employees and has now grown to 20, all specializing in their own particular areas.
At Azure, Mr. Van Wieringen is continuing the tradition he started at de Voogt for setting new standards of innovative and cutting-edge design and development.
David Weiss, Omega Architects
Originally from the United States, Davis Weiss moved to Europe in 2009 in response to a request from Omega for support on a unique yacht project. Mr. Weiss originally moved into yacht design after studying industrial design in North Carolina State University’s School of Design, after a conversation with an alum of the school led to some exploration into the superyacht industry. His passions for the iconic forms found in the golden age of transportation design and for spending time on the water both found a place to thrive in yacht design, and he is continuing to help shape and break the boundaries of possibility in the industry through collaboration in innovation. When not sketching furiously to capture some new idea, he enjoys driving German cars, playing tennis, racing go-karts, sailing, good chocolate and good friends.
Peter Wilson, MCM
Peter Wilson established Marine Construction Management (MCM) in Newport, Rhode Island, with Nigel Ingram in 1988. During the past 23 years, they have managed the construction of many well-known yachts and currently have a range of new builds underway – both motor and sail. With offices in the USA, the Netherlands and a satellite office in New Zealand, MCM’s yacht construction and yacht management operations are well supported around the globe.
Mr. Wilson’s background includes experience as a boat builder, yacht captain, inshore and offshore ocean racer, America’s Cup campaigns and project manager. The preceding 23 years has been a fascinating time for him, having seen MCM grow from the nascent beginnings of project management as an industry to having become a major force in new yacht construction and management of both motor and sailing yachts.
Andrew Winch, Andrew Winch Designs
Celebrating 25 years in operation last September, Andrew Winch has successfully developed an award-winning yacht design studio, which now also houses dedicated aviation, architectural and interior design divisions. He now leads a studio of 40 employees assisted by his Co-Director Matthew Chatt-Collins.
Having grown up sailing on the south coast of England, his love of the sea flows through all of his work. After a year as a yacht crew member sailing across the Atlantic and in the Caribbean, his design career began when he joined Jon Bannenberg Ltd. as an apprentice designer.
In 1986 with his wife Jane, Mr. Winch started Andrew Winch Designs in London. The past 25 years have been very successful, resulting in the completion of more than 25 sailing yachts, 20 motor yachts and nine aviation projects. The firm’s involvement has ranged from concept, to full interior and exterior design. Just as the firm strives to achieve beauty afloat, they also achieve elegance and comfort in both the air and on land. “Our ultimate goal is to realize the dreams of our clients whilst exceeding their expectations,” he says.
Owner of M/Y Exuma
A passionate traveller, the owner built his first Exuma in 1979. When he retired to Monaco after a career in the food industry, he devoted himself to building a very special explorer motor yacht under 500 GRT that would incorporate a number of unique features. These features were determined by his experience as a circumnavigator and by his intent to minimize the ecological impact of his yacht. The new Exuma was launched in 2010 and has exceeded all expectations. It won two World Superyacht Awards in 2011.