International Boat Industry - December 2015

54 DECEMBER 2015 | International Boat Industry http://www.ibi-plus.com

Strategy & Finance

INSIDER | ALBERTO GALASSI

president from the former Ferretti

Group. His experience has been very

important to CRN.

BOLD BUSINESS PLAN

Young people will show you things you

would never have thought of. It’s not a

democracy because companies can’t run

like a democracy. But I give my people

the freedom to take chances and risks

with new ideas. If they make a mistake,

I take responsibility. I provide the safety

net if they want to propose new ideas.

The Ferretti Group needed fresh

blood. I got tired of people coming to

me, saying we always did it this way or

that something just can’t be done. Our

young team is proving them wrong. We

are doing things that our competitors,

customers and even some of our

colleagues thought were impossible.

Many said we couldn’t introduce six new

models at Cannes this year, but we did.

Q So your new-product development

plans will continue?

A In 2016, we will launch 12 models—

eight are brand new and four are

restyled. In 2017, we will present nine

new models. In three years, we will have

launched 27 new models and renewed

two-thirds of the Ferretti Group’s

product line.

On top of that,

each brand will have

new models. Pershing,

for instance, will have

a new 40ft model to

compete in the entry-

level segment.

“We are also

looking at a new

Pershing 140 flagship,

and a 165 is under

design. In 2016, we’ll introduce the new

Our Allied

Marine division

was up 25% in 2014,

and we expect that

number to grow

25% again

this year

SFerretti’s Galassi: “We have very aggressive plans for new models.”

Custom Line Navetta 37m, but we’re not

going to stop at 37m. We’re looking at

a new 50m for Riva, and that line could

possibly build up to 90m. We have very

aggressive plans for new models.

Q Is this new product development

impacting your production facilities?

A We had to grow at a speed that would

provide sustainability for the company.

We couldn’t just be

close to stall speed by

launching a handful

of new products. We

have six plants and a

big group to sustain

and the way to do is

through new products.

We’ve moved from

temporary layoffs in

our factories to two

shifts. We will build 140 boats this year.

We’ve also become better organized

for manufacturing efficiency and have

introduced lean production to

the yards.

UPBEAT MARKETS

Galassi says the group’s strongest

market is EMEA, with North America

being second. The builder is confident

and claims it is growing faster than the

market, “So we’re taking share from our

Italian and UK competitors”, he says.

Q Where do you see growth areas?

“We expect the US market to do better

next year, though we’ll know for sure

after the Miami boat show. Our Allied

Marine division was up 25% in 2014,

and we expect that number to grow

25% again this year. The Middle East

and Persian Gulf regions remain

strong. We’re also seeing some return

to growth in Italy and sold four boats

in Greece lately. We have 70% market

share in China in luxury yachts. In

Japan, the clients love the Riva brand. A

new Perseo going to Yokohama.

Q Do you miss your old job

at Piaggio?

A To be honest, no. I barely have time

to miss my own family, much less my

old job. My belief is that you have to put

your heart and soul into one job, and

this is it.