In this year’s edition of YACHT STYLE’S “Who’s Who of Yachting in Asia,” special emphasis has been given to the dealer and broker faces in Singapore who are actively contributing to the development of the boating scene around the region, from countries like Korea, to emerging markets like the Philippines or Vietnam. With a big number of new entries, it shows how the industry is vibrant and continuously reinventing itself. YACHT STYLE salutes 9 outstanding Yachting Personalities featured here who have made it to the Top Power 100 list.
1| BRUNSKILL Alister (SINGAPORE)
Born in Indonesia and raised in Southeast Asia, Brunskill moved to London to further complete his Master’s degree. After a two-year graduate training programme with Princess Yachts, he joined the shipyard in charge of International Sales for the Americas and APAC territories. Back in Asia in 2012 with Boat Lagoon Yachting in Phuket, he is now General Manager for its Singapore-based operations.
2| CHANG Julian (SINGAPORE)
Managing Director of Raffles Yacht Pte Ltd, Chang is an active Board Director of the International SeaKeepers Society and involved in the marketing of CIMC Raffles in Asia, an environmentally focused offshore builder of yachts and large vessels. He represents Fraser Yachts to develop the brokerage house in Asia.
3| GOH Cheng Liang (SINGAPORE)
He is a billionaire tycoon who made his wealth manufacturing paints and coatings through Nippon Paint, Goh is well known for his collection of luxury yachts and catamarans, including Feadship White Rabbit II, 61m White Rabbit Echo and White Rabbit Golf by Echo yachts to be delivered in 2018.
4| LEE Francis (SINGAPORE)
Having stepped down in late 2017 as Raffles Marina’s president, Lee will certainly find ample time to dedicate to his passions: marine leisure, on top of marine conservation and ecotourism in the region. Founder of the Aseanarean concept 20 years ago, the Aseanarean Bluewater Alliance was formed in 2012 by 13 marinas in 4 countries and still growing, aimed at promoting nautical lifestyles and marine tourism in the region.
5| LOKE YP (SINGAPORE)
Based in Singapore and usually found at boat shows, “YP” is a well-known face in the region. He consults on marina development, and has been a member of the ICOMIA Marinas Committee since 1998. He is also the Asia Representative of The Yacht Harbour Association (TYHA, UK-based) that founded the Gold Anchor Scheme for marina classification.
6| POULLET Jean-Marc (SINGAPORE)
Former Senior Partner with McKinsey & Co., Singapore-based Poullet joined Burgess in 2015 as Chairman for Asia. Under his leadership, Burgess branched out in Hong Kong and recently in Shanghai with an office opened in early 2018. An experienced yachtsman, he owns a 33m yacht and has cruised extensively throughout Southeast Asia waters.
7| TAN Ben, Dr (SINGAPORE)
Sports physician Dr Ben Tan is the President of the Singapore Sailing Federation and currently serves as a member of ISAF. An Olympian, Dr Tan is an Asian Games (1994) and four-time consecutive Southeast Asian Games gold medallist in sailing.
8| THADANI Anil (SINGAPORE)
Chairman of Symphony Asia Holdings – a private equity and investment firm that recently acquired a stake in French luxury furniture brand, Maison Christian Liaigre – Thadani is also a (classic) motoring enthusiast and daring explorer. An experienced scuba diver and high speed skipper in his own right, he has circumnavigated the Svalbard archipelago in the Norwegian Arctic on his yacht Latitude, the third private boat to ever achieve this and the first to reach that latitude in the world.
9| TAY Arthur (SINGAPORE)
As Chairman of SUTL conglomerate headquartered in Singapore, he is also CEO and executive director of marina developer and operator SUTL Enterprise. Tay’s One°15 Marina Club celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2017. With new projects in Puteri Harbour (Johor Baharu), the Indonesian Navy Club in Jakarta, Sanshan Island in Suzhou, Tay ambitions to “create a necklace of pearls to connect the ONE°15 brand.” A driving force behind the Singapore Yacht Show, Tay enjoys relaxing on his superyacht, an Azimut 116.