Northrop & Johnson acquires SYM

Northrop & Johnson has acquired SYM, a superyacht management company based in Golfe Juan between Cannes and Antibes, and focused on the operational and management side of owning a superyacht. The acquisition expands Northrop & Johnson’s portfolio of services and helps the company become a full-service brokerage covering all aspects of superyacht ownership.

Daniel Ziriakus, Northrop & Johnson’s President and COO, said: “At Northrop & Johnson, we believe our continued growth and success are primarily due to the unwavering dedication to providing our clients with the premier yachting experience in every category. With the acquisition of SYM, the growth of Northrop & Johnson’s available services will drive even greater client satisfaction.

“We only acquire businesses that share the same client-dedicated mission, and SYM is no exception to this. From the moment we met the team, we could see it was a fantastic and completely complementary fit.”

By teaming up with SYM, Northrop & Johnson offers superyacht owners services that include buying, selling, chartering, building, crewing, insurance, yacht management and charter marketing. Ben Young, founder and Managing Director of SYM, said he hadn’t been looking to sell his company before he was approached by Northrop & Johnson.

“Throughout the past 27 years, we have run a very successful client-focused business with more than 30 superyachts and a growing management fleet,” Young said. “When Northrop & Johnson approached us, the client focus synergies and business growth opportunities were a great match for our clients and the overall industry.”

Founded in 1949, Northrop & Johnson was acquired in 2020 by MarineMax, the world’s largest recreational boat and yacht retailer. Northrop & Johnson has been represented in Asia-Pacific since 2018 by Thailand-based Lee Marine, founded and headed by Joshua Lee, and Riviera’s longest-serving international dealer.