Just two months before the opening of the International Multihull boat Show 2024, we have just learned of the departure of Gildas Le Masson from the general management of Nautitech Catamarans.

Nautism and multihull boats - Nautitech Catamarans has just announced the departure of its Managing Director, Gildas Le Masson.

Based in Rochefort, the Nautitech Catamarans shipyard specializes in the manufacture of liveaboard pleasure catamarans, targeting "owner" use as opposed to the charter market. The shipyard, which employs around 140 people, achieved sales of 30 million euros in 2023, with earnings of 1.5 million, and a production of around 50 units.

Gildas Le Masson had been in post for 6 years, after a career in marine electronics (Magellan Thales, Navico...). According to our information, Gildas Le Masson will remain in the nautical industry, in a new management position.

In his new role, Gildas La Masson will have repositioned the brand in the owner-boat market - after an attempt to develop the charter market - reorganized the production tool into a multi-purpose line (vs. 2 specialized lines), managed the difficult period of the Covid 19 pandemic with the implementation of an EMP, and launched two strategic models, firstly the Nautitech Open44, awarded a prestigious European Yacht of the Year 2023, and secondly the Nautitech Open 48 , just unveiled in Miami.

In 2023 and under his leadership, Nautitech Catamarans will have caught up with its 2019 sales, with a return to profit, and despite an encounter with activity in a more restricted market, that of sailing owners.

Commenting on the departure, Kai Brandes, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bavaria Yachtbau Holding, told ActuNautique: "We are extremely grateful to Gildas for his unwavering dedication, vision and leadership over the past six years. Under his leadership, Nautitech Catamarans has achieved historic success, including the launch of two new models, one of which won an award, that have redefined industry standards. We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Bavaria Yachtbau Holding announces the immediate launch of the search for a new Managing Director to continue the momentum set in motion by Gildas Le Masson.

The departure of Gildas Le Masson as Managing Director of Nautitech Catamarans comes at a time when the yachting market is feeling the pinch, and the company has decided to smooth out its order book over 2 years, in anticipation of the market slowdown. His successor will be responsible for continuing to renew the range and adapt the shipyard to this slowdown.