Jérôme de Metz Becomes CEO of Groupe Beneteau

Hervé Gastinel, CEO of Groupe Beneteau since 2015, has stepped down from his position and has been replaced by chairman Jérôme de Metz with immediate effect.

The Board of Directors of Beneteau SA, the French boatbuilding group, announced yesterday that Gastinel's duties within the group came to an end on June 16.

The Boat Division’s Management Board will also unite the group’s teams, brands, design units and plants around a stronger shared project. This is based around a cross-cutting approach and will be reflected in the creation of two major departments.

Christophe Caudrelier, previously CFO in charge of Information Systems and currently deputy CEO in charge of European activities, will retain his current position and will now lead the Operational Excellence Department for the Group.

Gianguido Girotti, previously General Manager of the Beneteau brand, in charge of its product strategy, will become Deputy CEO and will head up the Boat Division’s Product Strategy Department.

The Management Board will now include Corinne Margot, Group Human Relations and Communications Director, and will be assisted by Dieter Gust (Chairman of Construction Navale Bordeaux) and Jean-Paul Chapeleau (General Manager of Jeanneau and Prestige). No changes are being made to the governance of the Housing Division, led by Patrick Mahé.

In a statement Beneteau said “The company would like to thank Hervé Gastinel for the time and energy that he devoted to it over the past four years and wish him every success for the next steps in his career”. 

Groupe Beneteau maintains its latest estimates for revenues (3-5% growth for the current year) with a stable operating income rate compared to the previous fianncial year.

Gastinel is the third CEO of a major European boatbuilder to be replaced in the last week, following the departure of Marti from Sunseeker and Gates from Princess.