Leadership Articles
In the heyday of the 80s and 90s, the world of yachting was a different beast. Captains, appointed by owners, held undiluted power. Decisions about the crew, operations, budgets, and scheduling were made by the individual firmly grasping the helm. Though not without flaws, there was an air of immediacy and urgency, a directness that created a clear chain of command. The captain shoulder-bared the weight of the entire vessel, empowered by the owner’s trust and invested with the authority.
Changes whispered on the horizon by the late 90s, as large-yacht management companies began to rise. The sheer volume of ascending yachts entering the global market required a guiding hand on the regulatory and operational helm. Management companies transitioned from administrative supporters to empowered decision-makers. An irresistible logic pushed the trend, with owners desiring consolidated control in the face of swelling vessel sizes and crew numbers.
In a decisive move that promises to chart the course for the next phase of its organizational journey, the Ferretti Group has chosen Stassi Anastassov to steer its ship as the new Chief Executive Officer. This announcement came on the coattails of the board of directors’ recent Annual General Meeting and marks a clear strategic pivot for the yacht and superyacht manufacturing heavyweight.
A diverse leadership background characterizes Anastassov, who distinctly straddles both the commercial and humanitarian sectors. He holds a non-executive directorship at JS Global Lifestyle and Better Shelter and a track record of providing sound advice to global companies and investment firms on subjects including governance, operation transformation, and long-term value creation. This makes him an interesting choice to helm an organization like the Ferretti Group, which thrives on the same principles.