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Evan Kortmann has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a>. The Dutch shipyard has been in operation since 1798 and is a leading player in superyacht rebuild, conversion and repair. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/233599/image/large-e66ac6515af0aa44125e0479e0bff947.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/233599"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> recently undertook a merger, and is now part of the Zhongying Int’l Holding Group Ltd, which will support future expansion plans for the Dutch Shipyard. The appointment of Evan Kortmann will prove instrumental in this growth as he’ll spearhead the project, utilising his skillset which has been honed through both the yachting and retail sectors. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/233650/image/large-cde0b58251a3a2529356650bc291e1f5.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/233650">Evan Kortmann directed operations for major DIY retail stores before joining the yachting industry. His role saw him overseeing supply chain management and global logistics, which demanded acute attention to detail and a high degree of dynamism, due to the volatile markets. In 2015, Kortmann shifted into the yachting industry, first working as Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/311" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sevenstar Yacht Transport B.V. (Company)">Sevenstar Yacht Transport</a> and later founding the local transport company <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5173" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="We Ship Yachts (Company)">We Ship Yachts</a>. Daan Balk, CEO of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> was one of his clients, which is how the relationship between Kortmann and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk</a> arose. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/233601/image/large-49079df2656b0bbff83c472e24fadece.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/233601">Read:&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Article/54398" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard sold to Chinese investors to finance growth in the European and Asian markets (2022-01-10 15:30:00 +0100)">Balk Shipyard sold to Chinese investors to finance growth in the European and Asian markets</a>“When I moved into the yachting sector I was struck by how product-focused the industry is,” Kortmann said. “Coming from a retail background, I am used to a more business-oriented approach that takes on more facets than the product itself. It is this holistic approach that I will bring to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/434" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Balk Shipyard (Company)">Balk Shipyard</a> and apply during this exciting period of growth and development. At the end of the day it's all about putting a smile on the face of your customer.”

Balk Shipyard appoints Evan Kortmann as CCO

Evan Kortmann has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer of Balk Shipyard.

Balk Shipyard appoints Evan Kortmann as Chief Commercial Officer

The superyacht industry may be small to some, but it is filled with a range of experts and professionals from around the world. In this series, we shine a light on some of the specialists working within the different segments of the industry to learn more about what they do for the sector. Under the umbrella of the NEPA Group, Evan Kortmann is the Director of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5173" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="We Ship Yachts (Company)">WeShipYachts.com</a> - the newly established <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/yacht-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht transportation</a> company that has caught our attention.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/52876/image/large-5ce9ea8fcaaf21c3bd088a1204e6bb40.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/52876">The company was established only a few months ago, what made you decide to start a&nbsp;yacht transport&nbsp;company, and how has the market responded?&nbsp; Within the NEPA Group (the mother company to WeShipYachts.com), we leverage on 30 years of experience in <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/marine-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">maritime transportation</a> and shipping. We have created teams of specialists to meet the expectations of the yachting industry and fulfil the market demand for multiple services that are time and cost efficient.One of these teams is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4983" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="We Supply Yachts (Company)">WeSupplyYachts.com</a>, who as high-end provisioners, supply superyachts with the best food, provisions and parts no matter where they are.&nbsp;&nbsp;Another team is <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5173" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="We Ship Yachts (Company)">WeShipYachts.com</a>, which is an extension of our services and offers a personal approach and a transparent process to ensure our client’s yachts are moved in a safe and highly professional way - no matter where they go.&nbsp;The NEPA Group also has the M Yachts team. M Yachts is a user-friendly online booking platform for fully crewed yachts ready for charter. There are currently over 150 yachts for charter in seven regions on M Yachts.<img src="/uploads/store/photo/52878/image/large-cfc3a2472a80b328d05f236f02719b59.png" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/52878">For what reasons would an owner decide to use a&nbsp;yacht transportation&nbsp;company, and not just sail the yacht themselves? Time, safety, money and wear and tear. On a yacht, many destinations take too long to reach or can’t be done without stopping - and the seven seas can be rough and dangerous to sail. A crossing will bring costs in terms of fuel, oil filters, full crew and insurance, so the costs of transporting a yacht are often neutralised by the operational costs of a crossing. Also, the yacht will undergo more wear and tear when travelling on its own.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/52875/image/large-ebc66041a9b630d31f82a92f4ea2637e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/52875">Tell us more about the market for&nbsp;yacht transport, what sets WeShipYachts.com apart from the other companies? The development of the global economy in the last few years has had a positive effect on recreational boating, the migration of the yachts and the <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/yacht-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht transport</a> industry. Through our charter and provisioning services, we have seen an increase in movement between summer and <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/yacht-transport/caribbean/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">winter regions</a> and a desire to explore new and extreme destinations. People also like to share more, which has a positive effect on our chartering business. These industry insights enable us to be a dedicated and agile <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/yacht-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht transport</a> company and provide the right services to our global <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/yacht-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht transport</a> clientele.&nbsp;<img src="/uploads/store/photo/52870/image/large-bda8009c95c0acfa078000cad62b505e.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/52870">Having worked for the NEPA Group yourself, which is also the mother company to WeShipYachts.com, what experience do you bring to the company and what have you planned for the next five years? With NEPA we are with a highly motivated team driven by passion. Besides my passion for the industry and being a yachtsman myself, I bring a combination of many years of experience in a competitive retail industry and I worked for Sevenstar, the market leader in <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/yacht-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht transport</a>.&nbsp;As a team, we have finalised a plan for the next three years where the dynamics between <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/yacht-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht transport</a>, chartering and provisioning will be to achieve one goal: happy customers, no matter where they go.&nbsp;There are many companies who offer&nbsp;yacht transport, but not many who own a ship. What vessels do WeShipYachts.com use? That’s right, there used to be only one <a href="https://www.weshipyachts.com/our-services/yacht-transport/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">yacht transport</a> company who owned vessels. WeShipYachts.com has access to their own vessels within the NEPA Group and take advantage of the global partnerships we have established over the last 30 years.&nbsp;