Business

YANMAR Marine International (YMI), a provider of marine propulsion systems for the yachting industry, has announced the appointment of Wouter-Jan van der Wurff as its new CEO, effective from 1 October 2024.Bringing a wealth of leadership experience in industrial technology and power generation, van der Wurff will oversee YMI's continued growth and innovation as the company looks to expand its influence within the marine sector. Prior to his new role, van der Wurff served as CEO of the Cable Connectivity Group, where he led the company through a period of significant expansion, including its integration into Infinite Electronics in early 2023.  His career also includes prominent leadership positions at General Electric (GE) and INNIO, with responsibilities in gas engine power generation and a focus on up to 2MW systems. Van der Wurff has deep experience in both the naval and commercial marine industries, having held management roles at Thales and GE Power Conversion.Van der Wurff

Yacht brokerage firm Northrop & Johnson has appointed Brian Zhuang as their new Yacht Sales and Charter Broker. Based in Asia, Zhuang has acquired knowledge of both the Asian and Western markets, after almost two decades worth of hands-on experience in the yachting industry. Zhuang, who was born and raised in Shenzhen, is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English. Zhuang has also lived and worked in both China and the United States. This unique blend of cultural and professional insight gives him a personalised touch to his correspondence with clients, according to Northrop & Johnson.  In terms of his career, Zhuang started out by gaining a strong foundation in mechanical engineering, as well as roles as project manager for Mercedes-Benz and IBM. Zhuang’s passion for new technologies saw him ultimately found OMNIA MARINE in 2008, a yacht dealership with offices in Shenzhen and Hainan.  Since then, Zhuang has represented European and American yacht brands for