“We have been celebrating the Italian excellence every day since 1873, by adding more and more research, and development to our craft. This is the DNA of the site that exists for more than 140 years, and it is the natural expression of the highest Italian style and timeless elegance. This capability, together to the quality, the meticulous attention to detail and a constant improvement of the final product made Benetti a world leader and an icon of luxury yacht, the only brand able to meet the increasingly complex needs of boat owners all around the world.”
Since September 2014, Azimut-Benetti Group, the largest luxury yachts producer in the world, has a new leadership at the Commercial Area of brand Benetti, Fabio Ermetto, who got the role of Chief Commercial Officer, the business unit specialized in production and sale of luxury yacht. The brand Benetti is a story of craftsmanship and mind made in Italy, begun in 1873 and continued with almost 300 boats, more than 300,000 square meters of space production located in 6 sites in Italy, 36 yachts currently under construction, including a 90 mt: these numbers are the best expression to celebrate the Italian excellence and a perfect link among the quality production, creativity and technology. A legend of the Italian tradition because of style and craftsmanship: mega yachts in steel and aluminum up to 100 meters, designed and tailor made in order to meet the most sophisticated needs of customers all around the world. Each Benetti is customized and is a jewel, something unique, reliable and innovative. A success sealed by the prestigious international magazine, Show Boats International, that crowned Benetti as the first Mega Yacht Custom producer in the world, for the 10th consecutive year.
Mr. Ermetto, your first challenge in the new role is to strengthen the commercial development of Benetti: which are the most potential growth markets for the segment of Mega Yacht? At the moment, to be very cautious, we can say that all the markets are growing. Those ones that are benefiting of a particular positive moment are USA and Asia. Even the Middle East has always been very stable, mainly in the segment of very large boats. Which are the opportunities in fast growing emerging markets, such as Qatar and Middle East? Benetti had always many customers in the Middle East and Qatar and we continue to develop there. The good news is that – differently from few years ago – we have now new customers that are also interested in smaller boats, those ones of the Class Range. (Editor’s Note In 2013, a new commercial office was opened in Dubai and Nabilel Jammal was appointed Area Manager for the Middle East. The opening of a new direct office is strategic in order to be close to customers in the area of the Middle East and consolidate an historic presence of Azimut-Benetti Group, a true “first-mover” in the 80’s.) What does it mean excellence for Azimut Benetti Group? It means to build the yacht in the full respect of the quality. And the quality is always full respect the customers’ needs and to satisfy all their desires, without forgetting our building tradition with deep roots in the made in Italy.
A feature of brand Benetti is the Research&Development: how can technology, design and testing of innovative materials made in Italy be differentiated? The open door to innovative solutions and technologies has always been a feature of Benetti. Today, we continue to do so both with the development of the research, with the deep and solid foundation of the Italian tradition, and opening to all that the world has to offer in terms of development and technology. How is the brand Benetti able to catch the new trends in order to create innovative products that meet the new needs of the market? We are very global both in physical terms – with offices in key locations such as Dubai, Hong Kong, London, Fort Lauderdale, apart from the sites in Livorno and Viareggio – and in terms of approach to customers. Our customer portfolio is international. We have to listen to different cultural origins owners’ and that allows us to broaden our knowledge and background, in order to develop complex and advanced solutions. Which are the last innovations of Benetti Yacht? Among the latest innovations, we have the Fast Displacement line, fast yachts in composite structure which are built in the site of Viareggio, hulled D2P (displacement to planning), a technology that combines high performance without sacrificing the comfort of displacement yachts.
The line has actually two models, the F-140’and the F125′, with 8 models (four for both), already sold. We presented the first model, the Fast 140, had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show few weeks ago. A yacht with a strong personality coming both from the technological innovations of the hull and propulsion systems, and from the strong distinctive style of design and furnishings. Behind the project, there is the new hull designed by Studio Pierluigi Ausonio Naval Architecture and the Research & Development Department of Azimut – Benetti Group. The first evident advantages are the cruising speed of 12 knots and the low consumption, but also the opportunity of travelling with high speed (over 20 knots) and high comfort. It is a semi-custom yacht with D2P hull (displacement to planing), an innovative project that excites both the Benetti customers, who desire higher speeds, and those ones approach Benetti for the first time.
About Benetti
• Founded in 1873, Benetti is the oldest Italian boat producer specialized in luxury yacht.
• Each yacht is unique and tailor made on the shipowner.
• Benetti designs, builds and markets three lines: Gamma Class, Displacement and Fast Displacement – in composite from 93 up to 145 fts – and Custom – steel and aluminum over 45 mt.
• Benetti has sites in Viareggio, Livorno, Fano and offices in Fort Lauderdale, Dubai and Hong Kong.
• Benetti is part of Azimut|Benetti Group, the first, largest and most prestigious luxury megayacht producer in the world privately held. The Group, that ownes the brands Azimut Yachts, Azimut Grande, Benetti, Atlantis, targeted on different groups in the marine
market, and Yachtique, the Business Unit of exclusive services for shipowners, from which Fraser Yachts depends, specialized in brokerage and chartering, that operates in 70 countries in the world through a sales network of 140 offices
