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An interview with the new CEO of Mondo Marine, Roberto Zambrini

An interview with the new CEO of Mondo Marine, Roberto Zambrini

by Cornelia Marioglou | April 22nd 2012 | 08:00 pm

The salon on board 41m 'OKKO', Mondo Marine's newest build designed by the greek architect Giorgio Vafiadis. The boat will be shown during the next Monaco Yacht Show.

Family-owned Mondo Marine shipyard, located on Italy's Ligurian coast, produces some of the finest motor yachts in the world. Since the Stroppiana brothers Elio and Ferruccio founded the brand in 1978, more than 65 yachts have been delivered, amongst them the famous 50-metre explorer vessel Tribu, built for Italian textile magnate Luciano Benetton.

Mondo, however, has been going through changes lately, most recently with a change in leadership four weeks ago when CEO Diego Deprati retired from his post. Now at the helm is 54-year-old Roberto Zambrini, who brings with him more than 27 years of varied experience in the marine sector.

We met with Zambrini at the Savona-based shipyard to ask him about the future of the brand.

CEO of Mondo Marine, Roberto Zambrini

Centurion: What changes do you see on the horizon for Mondo Marine?
Roberto Zambrini: There is not a lot that needs to be changed. Today, the boat building market is a very difficult one. We all know where we stand. In my opinion, we have to analyse and define the new markets relevant for Mondo in order to continue the growth.

And we have to evaluate the costs accordingly. Due to the tough circumstances of the euro weakness and the increasing oil prices, the whole marine industry at present is not in a position to start any kind of revolutionary action. We have to keep the value of the brand that is already inside the company today and slowly moving towards some other values that we have to build up. … But for sure we are going to work on some new technologies and new lines.

Any details you can share?
We have to create a line that is characteristic for Mondo Marine. Today, from my point of view, you cannot identify the product with the brand. We have to try to make the product more attractive to a bigger audience. The brand is not so well-known in [some] parts of the world. Of course we are strong in the markets where we are present, because the quality that Mondo delivers is exceptional. Our owners are really happy with what they get.

  • The owner's suite on board 41m 'OKKO', Mondo Marine's newest build designed by the greek architect Giorgio Vafiadis. The boat will be shown during the next Monaco Yacht Show.
  • The upper salon on board 41m 'OKKO', Mondo Marine's newest build designed by the greek architect Giorgio Vafiadis. The boat will be shown during the next Monaco Yacht Show.

Do you think that clients' perception of the brand will change if it goes from low profile to high exposure?
Well, of course we want to keep the value and very good quality [of our product], but yes, we have to create a wider awareness on the Mondo capabilities. But we would like to avoid the situation that some other yards have created by spending a lot of money on advertising and promotions without having the right product with the best quality available. I have in mind to create a product that matches the idea of the brand and the quality likewise. This is a long way to go, a long-term project.

One of our Mondo Marine favourites is an expedition line designed by Sergio Cutolo. Will this stay in the range?
We will keep this line for sure because we think that this is a very successful line. Furthermore, we see a trend on the market for a product as such for different reasons: full displacement, it offers big volumes, less consumption… in other words, a real boat.

Visit Mondo Marine at their homepage

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