‘China expert’ Godfrey Zwygart joins GMBA’s Advisory Team

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Godfrey Zwygart

GMBA (Global Marine Business Advisors) has appointed China-based Godfrey Zwygart to its Advisory Team, which now numbers 20 senior marine industry professionals across five continents.

Originally trained in the French Naval Academy, Zwygart served as an officer on both navy and merchant ships and a captain on superyachts up to 50m. Zwygart has spent much of his life in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China since the 1980s and is fluent in English, French and Mandarin.

Zwygart now specialises in the development, management and marketing of marinas and yacht clubs, and is a consultant for Sanya Serenity Marina, where he worked from 2010-2020. During that period, Serenity hosted stopovers for the Volvo Ocean Race twice and Clipper Race, and in 2018 became only the second marina to obtain the 5 Gold Anchor Platinum accreditation from MIA.

In 2019, Zwygart was awarded the Chinese Government’s Friendship Award, the highest honour for foreign experts in China, and a year later received a ‘green card’ for permanent residency in the country. As an author and columnist, Zwygart has published two books and many articles in Chinese.

Jouko Huju of GMBA said: “The addition of Godfrey to the GMBA team further broadens the level of knowledge, expertise and networks we can provide to our clients. With the commitment being seen to develop the leisure boating industry in China, Godfrey is a valuable addition to our team.”

GMBA was formed in early 2020 to help companies in the yachting industry expand and develop by using the experience and network of its members. Most of the team are based in Europe, while others are based in the US, Middle East, South Africa, Australia/New Zealand and Asia, with Singaporean YP Loke among the 12 founding members.