TWO new directors have been formally appointed to Sunseeker as the transition to new overseas owners continues.
Augusto Balestra, 56, and Mario Gardini, 58, have both now been listed as directors for the Poole-based luxury yacht maker on Companies House.
Both Italians, Mr Balestra is the chief executive at Orienta Partners while Mr Gardini is the president of the same company.
Orienta Capital Partners, along with Miami-based Lionheart Capital, bought Sunseeker from its previous Chinese owners last month.
Andrea Frabetti, the chief executive of Sunseeker International since 2019, crushed any concern about moving any of its workforce elsewhere.
Sunseeker employed 1,863 people at the end of 2022, the most recent accounts show, including 1,602 in manufacturing.
Mr Frabetti said Ophir Sternberg, chief executive of Lionheart, will be an “active” co-owner of the business.
He added that new owners Orienta and Lionheart “will leverage their proven expertise in the yachting industry” to support Sunseeker’s development.
Sunseeker was founded in Christchurch by Robert Braithwaite in 1969, as Friars Cliff Marine, selling other companies’ boats.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here