Evan Kortmann has been appointed as Chief Commercial Officer of Balk Shipyard. The Dutch shipyard has been in operation since 1798 and is a leading player in superyacht rebuild, conversion and repair. 
Photo: Ruben Griffioen / SuperYacht TimesBalk Shipyard 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. 
Photo: Ruben Griffioen / SuperYacht TimesEvan 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 Sevenstar Yacht Transport and later founding the local transport company We Ship Yachts. Daan Balk, CEO of Balk Shipyard was one of his clients, which is how the relationship between Kortmann and Balk arose. 
Photo: Ruben Griffioen / SuperYacht TimesRead: Balk Shipyard sold to Chinese investors to finance growth in the European and Asian markets
“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 Balk Shipyard 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.”