Burgess Expands in Asia

Expanding its presence in Asia, superyacht specialist, Burgess will inaugurate its Singapore office at the Singapore Yacht Show.

Operating out of Singapore, Burgess says this initiative “is the organic evolution of the company’s long-term commitment to serving and developing the region’s superyacht market, fostered over the course of the last decade.”

With an already impressive client portfolio of Asian-based superyacht owners and charterers, Burgess has consistently invested in reconnaissance visits to the region and has supported the Singapore Yacht Show and the Hainan Rendez-Vous since the inception of both events. Burgess currently lists a fleet of 10 top superyachts offered for sale or charter on behalf of Asian or Asia-based owners, the largest number represented by any brokerage company.

Effective immediately, Richard Lambert (pictured top) is appointed managing director Asia and senior broker, a position that will be combined with his current role as global head of the semi-custom division. Richard will be responsible for leading the overall development of Burgess in Asia and will co-ordinate the company’s global brokerage resources and expertise to personally support and advise Asia-based clients.

With 20 years’ brokerage experience in the superyacht industry, including 10 years at Burgess and a directorship on the main board at a leading shipyard, Richard will offer Asian clients a wealth of knowledge across multiple disciplines.

On the charter side, Kum Kuen Woo joins Burgess as charter manager and broker based in Singapore to focus on the development of the charter market in Asia, both regionally and internationally. Fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese, Kum Kuen is an experienced figure in Asia’s superyacht industry, having managed one of Singapore's most active charter superyachts for many years. Under the guidance of Gaye Joyeau-Bourgeois, director and senior charter broker in Monaco, the global Burgess charter team will collaborate closely with Kum Kuen to assist Asian clients with international charters and to promote Asia as a charter destination to clients worldwide.

Also effective immediately, Georgina Menheneott assumes the role of regional development manager to support the company’s expansion strategy across emerging and developing markets worldwide, with a substantial focus devoted to the launch of the Asia operation.

Finally, effective 1 July upon his retirement as senior partner with global consultancy firm McKinsey & Co, Jean-Marc Poullet will join Burgess as chairman Asia to provide guidance on the company’s developments in the region and to help coordinate key client relationships. Jean-Marc has more than 20 years’ experience advising top Asian entrepreneurs and business leaders, having held multiple senior regional leadership roles with McKinsey both in Hong Kong and Singapore, where he now resides. Jean-Marc is an experienced yachtsman and owns a 33-metre motor yacht aboard which he has extensively cruised throughout South East Asia.

“After considerable planning, we are excited to be finally launching our operations in Asia and we have selected a very strong and experienced global team to bring the best of our expertise in all aspects of superyachting to the region,” said Jonathan Beckett, group chief executive officer of Burgess.

“We are taking a long term approach to developing the market in Asia. We don’t expect to gain immediate traction and are realistic about the investment in time and resources required for success. We believe in the importance of this market and are committed to introducing superyachting to a completely new customer base.

“We are delighted that Jean-Marc Poullet has accepted to oversee our developments in the region and we will certainly benefit from his experience and well-established networks.”

http://www.oceanmagazine.com.au/j/index.php/livenews/1119-burgess-expands-in-asia