Groupe Beneteau announces leadership changes

alt="Groupe Beneteau announces leadership changes"/>

Bruno Thivoyon

Bruno Thivoyon will succeed Jerome de Metz as Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Beneteau from June 17, one of a series of decisions made at a recent meeting of the Board of Directors to prepare for changes to the Group’s governance.

De Metz, 63, indicated he would like to retire after his three-year term expires on June 17. His departure will coincide with Jean-Paul Chapeleau, current Deputy CEO, Industrial Operations and Development, reaching the age limit set by the bylaws. Chapeleau has agreed to continue working with the Group as an Advisor to the Executive Leadership Team.

Thivoyon, 47, has been Deputy CEO – Finance, Legal and IT Systems, since January 1, having been Group Chief Financial Officer from January 27, 2020. He began his career in 1998 with Valeo, after graduating in both industrial systems engineering and from IAE management school. Over 22 years, he held several finance positions, at its headquarters then in various business units.

Gianguido Girotti

Gianguido Girotti, 44, will succeed Chapeleau as Group Deputy CEO and become CEO of the Boat Division. Girotti is currently Deputy CEO – Brand and Product Strategy, Boat Division. The Italian drew up and rolled out the House of Brands strategy while developing distribution strategies. A naval architecture graduate from the University of Southampton (UK), Girotti joined the Beneteau brand in May 2015.

De Metz said: “I am very pleased to be able to hand over to Bruno Thivoyon and Gianguido Girotti. They have already been involved in driving the Group’s recent transformation, they get on together perfectly, and they will be able to take the Group forward to build on its success.”

The new Chairman of the Board will be Yves Lyon-Caen, a Director of the Group, which he chaired from 2005 to 2019. Louis-Claude Roux will continue as Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Board also appointed Ms Marie-Hélène Dick as a Director, replacing De Metz. Ms Dick is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Virbac and will join the Board as an independent director.