For Grand Soleil, a strong new partner and plans for the future

The Trevisani family, Italian entrepreneurs, took over Cantiere del Pardo, manufacturer of Grand Soleils, and entrusted the management to a proven team of managers who are well acquainted with the reality of the Forlì shipyard and the sailing market. The new entity Cantiere del Pardo SpA is born, which will also manage the Sly brand, also owned by the Trevisans. Thus ends, with a happy ending, the complicated corporate and management affair of one of the best-known and most prestigious brands in Italian shipbuilding. Grand Soleil has in fact experienced troubled years since the German Bavaria group, which had acquired control along with the French shipyard Dufour, decided to focus its investments exclusively on the German Bavaria brand.

AN IMPORTANT FAMILY
Breathing new life, albeit at a less than brilliant time for boating and betting on recovery, is a family among the most important in Romagna and Italian business. The Trevisani family is the controlling shareholder of the Trevi Group, listed on the Milan Stock Exchange with more than 1.1 billion in sales in 2012, a world leader in underground drilling with more than 6,000 employees in more than 40 countries.

The Trevisani family was already present with an investment in sailing after taking control of the Sly shipyard since 2010. Now the production unit of the two brands, which has 12 models-seven Sly Yachts models from 38 to 61 feet and Grand Soleil with five from 43 to 54 feet-will be concentrated in the production unit in Forli, the historical home of Cantiere del Pardo.

THE NEW FRAMEWORKS.

At the helm of the new Cantiere del Pardo returns Michel Delagarde as CEO who had previously been at the helm of Grand Soleil from 2008 to 2012 and previously also of the Dufour shipyard, which was then part of the same group. Delagarde will flank Marco Casadei, coordinator in the just-concluded acquisition process, who was reappointed by shareholders in the role of chairman.

The other managers of the new entity, chosen by the Trevisans, are also well-known boating professionals who are well acquainted with the Grand Soleil world.

New general manager is Fabio Planamente, who held the position of export manager at the Forlì shipyard since 2009.

Coming in from Sly Yachts is the new sales director, Gigi Servidati while Stefano Marinoni is the technical and production director, a position he already held in the yard’s previous management.

In the future of Cantiere del Pardo, thanks to the impetus of the new ownership, there is the advanced study of a new Grand Soleil “Blue Water” line-that is, boats designed for long-range sailing with maximum comfort, as comfortable as home but fast, safe, elegant and marine. A growing market that the Grand Soleil brand can cover well, backed by the yard’s own experience and expertise.