The ISS (International Superyacht Society) has today announced its new president, executive board as well as a new member of its board of directors. With Australian, Lance Cushion’s appointment as ISS president, the organization continues to realize its mandate of truly representing the international nature of the superyacht industry. Paul Madden, Ann Avery, Ken Hickling and past president, Doug Sharp, complete the executive board. In related news, Gerry Butler of the Royal Bank of Scotland has joined the ISS board of directors.
ISS President, Lance Cushion
Chief Executive Officer, Super Yacht Base Australia
A foundation director of Superyacht Base Australia, Lance Cushion has worked tirelessly in establishing the peak national body representing the Australian superyacht industry. Since January 2000, Lance has held the position of Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director. His work in government advocacy and marketing has enabled the Australian superyacht industry to develop to a $500 million industry and is well recognized.
Lance has also served as a member of the Australian Marine Industry Action Agenda (MIAA) committee. The charter of the MIAA is to address all issues effecting the development of the marine industry in Australia and prepare an Action Agenda for adoption by the Federal Government. Lance was the Chair of the Sub-Committee–Marketing for the MIAA and currently serves on the MIAA Implementation Committee charged with overseeing the implementation of the twenty-one issues raised in the MIAA.
Lance has over thirty years as the founding principal of marketing and advertising agency, Ad-Vantage Pty Ltd, which boasts a number of Australia’s key marine businesses amongst its clientele. Lance was recently re-elected for his second two-year term as a director on the Board of the International Superyacht Society. He demonstrates a passion for the continued development of the superyacht industry in the Australia/Pacific & South-East Asia regions and as such is keen to maintain and work with global industry issues through his involvement on the Board of the International Superyacht Society.
ISS Vice President, Paul Madden
CRN in the Americas
Paul Madden is the new yacht construction representative for CRN in the Americas. CRN Shipyard is part of the Ferretti Group, which is one of the world's largest yacht manufacturers. He is a former manager with Camper & Nicholsons Mexico and the former North American representative of Blohm+Voss.
Paul grew up sailing on the classic S&S sloop Gesture and has raced Transatlantic, as well as in numerous Newport-Bermuda races and SORCs. During the 1983 America’s Cup, Paul Madden created what has become known as the Louis Vuitton Challengers' Cup. He has been a member of the New York Yacht Club and is a member of the Royal Thames Yacht Club.
Paul graduated from the University of Colorado and received his MBA from Boston University's overseas program in Brussels; in addition, he holds a graduate degree from the National Film School of England. He is both Vice-President of the International Superyacht Society (ISS) and is on the Board of the American Sail Training Association (ASTA).
ISS Secretary, Ann Avery
Northrop & Johnson
Prior to her yachting career, Annie Avery worked at ABC television and was associate faculty member at University of Washington in Seattle. After earning her USCG Master’s license, now at the 300-ton level, Ann became one of the first female captains with this credential. She skippered various yachts for charter use and private use, including the famous Sirocco, Errol Flynn’s 75’ Alden wooden classic and a modern 88’ maxi-cruiser for a European owner.
In 1990, prepared with this nautical foundation, Ann began her career in yacht brokerage. She is currently associated with Northrop and Johnson in Ft. Lauderdale; she assists clients in the sale and purchase of previously owned yachts, as well as new construction projects. Ann is also a published free-lance writer in the yachting field. Annie has been the ISS secretary for the past six years and is a very active executive board member.
ISS Treasurer, Ken Hickling
Awlgrip Paint
As past treasurer of ISS, Ken has been able to actively participate in numerous board meetings and been deeply involved in policy discussions. He is currently chair of the membership committee and has been responsible for continually developing many key membership benefits. Ken is also a member of the ISS Policy Committee that works on coordinating positioning papers on vital industry issues. Ken has 17 years industry experience with SP Systems, International Paint and currently Awlgrip.
ISS Past President, Doug Sharp
Doug Sharp Designs
Doug Sharp is President of Douglas Sharp Yacht Design, Inc. and is regarded as one of the world’s top maritime architects specializing in large yacht design. Born & raised in San Diego, California.
Doug grew up in the Point Loma area, close to the San Diego Yacht Club, so from an early age was endeared to the water, and became an avid sailboat race master both offshore and closed-course; he has also participated in numerous Transpacific Yacht races, World & North America Championships over the years.
For the past four years, Doug has effectively led the International Superyacht Society through a re-branding campaign, has worked with ISS committees on revitalizing the organization’s business plan and continued to tirelessly foster a sense of professional standards and ethics for an increasingly complex industry. His vital input to the new executive board is a welcome reminder of the value of the role of a past president.
Doug has a BA in Biology, BS in Engineering (Mechanical) and MS in Engineering, Specializing in Naval Architecture. He has been practicing small vessel design, in particular yachts, for over twenty-eight years and has been the principal of his design firm for the last fifteen years.
ISS Board Member, Gerry Butler
Royal Bank of Scotland
Gerry Butler was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1973. In 1995, he graduated from the University College Dublin, majoring in Economics and Archaeology.
After spending five years at Irish Life Assurance, Gerry joined the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2002; since then, he has helped develop a fledging business into the third largest aircraft lessor and financier globally. In 2003, he moved to RBS New York with Aviation Capital and headed up the Risk team evaluating risk in the commercial airline sector and focused on such key issues surrounding North, Central and South America as oil, labour rates, bankruptcy protection, government protectionism, and more. In August 2005 he moved to London to design, implement and oversee a new division called ‘superyacht finance’. Today, Gerry continues to build the business with an aim to being the largest financier of superyachts globally by June 2008.
Gerry believes that being on the board of ISS is a great opportunity for him to bring his enthusiasm for business development to support and encourage new ideas in the superyacht industry.
International Superyacht Society
Founded in 1989, the ISS (International Superyacht Society) is the sole not-for-profit organization serving the large yacht industry worldwide. ISS members are individuals, companies and owners who are recognized for their leadership and dedication to raising the standards of design, construction, maintenance, repair and operation of large yachts. ISS provides recognition, training and networking opportunities to reach this objective.