Jan-Bart Verkuyl, CEO of Feadship Royal Van Lent, is the new president of SYBAss. Following the board elections at the Annual General Meeting in Monaco in September 2025, and the subsequent division of roles during the SYBAss board meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Verkuyl succeeds Michael Breman, who will remain on the board as past president.
The new vice-chair is Bas Peute of Vitters, who was recently elected to the board to represent sailing yacht builders. Michelle Jones of Delta Marine has been re-elected and will continue to serve as the association’s treasurer. Giovanna Vitelli of Azimut|Benetti and Massimo Perotti of Sanlorenzo have also been re-elected to represent the members’ interests for the next three years. Theo Hooning was re-elected and will continue as a non-executive board member next year, having announced that he will step down as secretary general by the end of 2025.
New executive director: Robert van Tol
Robert van Tol will be the new executive director of SYBAss effective 1 January 2026. Following his past seven years successfully establishing and scaling up the Water Revolution Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to driving environmental progress within the yachting sector, he brings fresh energy and a modern perspective to SYBAss.
Building on SYBAss’s position in the current maritime world, Van Tol’s appointment reflects a strategic shift towards a future-focused and proactive approach, embedding a stronger focus on pragmatic steps forward in respect of sustainability, also in response to a recent member survey.
“I am honoured to take on the presidency of SYBAss and look forward to working with the board and our members to continue to advance the superyacht industry and address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I am committed to building on the strong foundation laid by my predecessors and ensuring SYBAss remains a leading voice in the maritime world. I also want to extend my sincere gratitude to Michael Breman and Theo Hooning for their exceptional leadership and tireless efforts in professionalising our industry through SYBAss. I am particularly eager to collaborate with Robert van Tol, our new executive director, as we embark on this next chapter”, says Jan Bart Verkuyl.
