Oct 2026OwnerCourt rejects KKCG's bid to suspend the AGM; main hearings from November
What it adds up to. Control is contested in court, a consumer-goods outsider replaced the long-time CEO, and the superyacht order flow stopped in 2026.
Who runs it
Executive President (Weichai Power)since 2012
Chief Executive Officersince 2026
Head of Sales, Rivasince 2025
Head of Sales & Marketing, Ferretti Yachtssince 2019
Organisation. Listed, contested control; new outside CEO, CCO with serial and custom sales directors
What it shows for a new yard. A corporate commercial organisation (CCO, serial and custom sales directors) whose senior people are reachable while the fight lasts.
Former leaders now elsewhere22 people who held a top or senior seat here
now Amministratore delegato at Absolute Yachts SPA
now Chief Executive Officer at WIDER SRL
now Managing Director at Ventura Yachts
now Chief Executive Officer at Marina di Varazze
now Managing Director at Cantiere delle Marche
now General Manager Business Unit at Groupe Beneteau
now Chief Executive Officer at ETATRON
now Managing Director at Sanguineti
now Executive Chairman & Partner at WOSA Yacht Refit & Survey
now Chief Technical Officer at Alpha Custom Yachts
now CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER at Anvera Yacht
now Chief Executive Officer at Sanlorenzo MED
now Production, Refitting and After Sales Manager at Baglietto spa
now Tankoa Sales & Marketing Manager at TANKOA YACHTS SpA
now General Manager Sanlorenzo Côte d’Azur at Sanlorenzo Yacht
now Chief Operating Officer at Azimut Yachts
now Senior Director Service Yacht at Sanlorenzo Yacht
now Head of Marketing and Communication at Baglietto spa
now worldwide sales director at Benetti Yachts
now Director for the Americas at Baglietto Yachts
now Marketing Director at Palumbo SuperYachts
now Chief Production Officer at The Italian Sea Group S.p.A
The top team as read on LinkedIn58 people read as staff, October 2026
An Executive President from the owner Weichai (since 2012) and a new outside CEO (May 2026, ex-Duracell) over a corporate C-suite: Chief Commercial Officer (Sep 2025, from the custom-business sales seat), Chief Technical & Operations Officer (since 2014, 1,700 people, seven sites), CFO (2016), CHRO (2020), Chief Communications Officer, Chief Quality Service & Refit Officer, Chief Customer & Improvement Officer, General Counsel, Director of Purchasing (ex-Ferrari plant director), Project Management Director (ex-Ducati), Engineering Director. Below: plant directors per site (Ravenna greenfield, Forlì, La Spezia Riva, the multi-brand final-assembly yard), sales split into a serial business and a custom business with brand heads (Riva, Custom Line, Ferretti Yachts) and regional directors (Americas, Asia Pacific).
The most corporate structure in Italy: after the 2012 Weichai takeover the group staffed its operations and finance seats from aerospace and automotive (Piaggio Aero, Leonardo, Ferrari, Ducati, AgustaWestland) and kept yacht people in sales. Sales is organised by business model (serial against custom) before brand, which is the distinction the brief draws for RMK. The 2026 ownership fight with KKCG ended with a Weichai board and an outside CEO, so the top is fresh while the operations chief is twelve years in. Two of the shipyard-side leaders are directly relevant to Yalova: the Ravenna plant director, who stood up a 70,000 square metre greenfield yard in a year, and the operations director of the security and defence unit.
Top seat
Senior layer · 33
General management 2
Sales and marketing 12
Engineering and design 2
Production and operations 8
Projects, service and after-sales 2
Purchasing and supply chain 1
Finance, legal and IT 5
People 1
Managers · 23
General management 1
Sales and marketing 5
Engineering and design 2
Production and operations 2
Projects, service and after-sales 1
Purchasing and supply chain 1
Finance, legal and IT 10
People 1
Seats and dates are as the people describe them on LinkedIn; a person who moved in the last months can still show the old seat. Tap a person for the profile and the reading.
Candidates at Ferretti Group17 in the pools; the shortlisted first, then by tier and score
Giordano Pellacani
Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Ferretti Group · Bagnolo in Piano, Italy
* Yacht network20%Area Manager Middle and Far East @ Benetti (Jan 2009 – Feb 2012); Head of Sales and Marketing @ Riva
* Technical and pricing20%University of Genova - La Spezia Nautical Engineer · Yacht Designer
* Business building20%General Manager @ Benetti Asia ltd (Feb 2012 – Aug 2014)
Leadership maturity10%Sales & Marketing Director Custom Business @ Ferretti Group (Jan 2019 – Nov 2024)
Reading. CCO since Sep 2025; Chief Sales Officer and before that Sales & Marketing Director of the custom business (CRN, Custom Line, Wally) 2019-2025, head of sales and marketing at Riva, General Manager of Benetti Asia, Benetti and Riva area manager. Nautical engineer and yacht designer by training. Twenty years of yacht sales on an engineering base, with one general-management seat.
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Molds&Plugs Plant Director @ Ferretti Group (Nov 2016 – Dec 2023); Quality&Testing Director
* Business building20%Leading the full greenfield creation and scale-up of a new shipyard. Delivered 18 yachts and built 70,000 sqm of facilities within first year of operations, reaching €56M production value
Leadership maturity10%20+ years of international experience transforming manufacturing plants
Reading. Built and scaled the group's new Ravenna yard from greenfield since Nov 2023: 70,000 square metres of facilities and 18 yachts delivered in the first year, EUR 56 million production value. Moulds and plugs plant director 2016-2023, quality and testing director before; Bombardier rail, Maserati, Italdesign; mechanical engineer. The one person on either list who has just done what Yalova needs: a 70,000 square metre greenfield yacht yard.
Career
Ravenna Shipyard Plant Director · Ferretti Group Nov 2023 – Present
Molds&Plugs Plant Director · Ferretti Group Nov 2016 – Dec 2023
Quality&Testing Director · Ferretti Group Apr 2015 – Nov 2016
Technical Director · Saıra Europe Spa Jun 2013 – Apr 2015
Quality, Validation and Testing Manager · Saıra Europe Spa Jun 2012 – Jun 2013
Senior System Engineer and Type Test Manager for ETR1000 · Bombardier Transportation Apr 2010 – Jun 2012
Automotive and Railway Senior Consultant · Altran italia Apr 2005 – Apr 2010
Performance Engineer · Maserati Jan 2006 – Jun 2008
and 2 earlier roles
Education
Università degli Studi di Salerno Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.) · Mechanical Engineering; Liceo Scientifico Ettore Majorana Maturità scientifica
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Managing Plant Director @ Ferrari (2018 – 2023)
* Business building20%Full P&L and strategic responsibility for the custom superyacht manufacturing unit (Zago)
Leadership maturity10%managing an €800M budget across the Group's entire yacht brand portfolio
Reading. Group purchasing director since May 2025 (EUR 800 million budget) and CEO of the Zago interiors subsidiary since Dec 2023; industrial development director 2023-2025; Ferrari plant director 2018-2023, F1 production; racing-car engineer with two executive masters.
Career
Director of Purchasing · Ferretti Group May 2025 – Present
Industrial Development Director · Ferretti Group May 2023 – Jun 2025
Chief Executive Officer · Zago Spa - Ferrettı Group Company Dec 2023 – Present
Board Member · Fratellı Canalıcchıo & Massello - Ferrettı Group Company May 2023 – Present
Managing Plant Director · Ferrari 2018 – 2023
Senior Production Manager - F1 · Ferrari 2009 – 2018
Logistic Project Manager Moto GP · Ducati Motor Holding 2007 – 2009
Bologna Business School Executive Master of Business Administration; SDA Bocconi Executive Master in Supply Chain Management; Università di Camerino Master in Racing Car Engineer
Reading. CTOO since Aug 2014: all technical and industrial functions, 1,700 employees, seven sites, seven brands, sets industrial strategy with the CEO. Leonardo helicopters vice president and Piaggio Aerospace plant operations before; aerospace engineer. The longest-serving operations chief on either list.
Career
Chief Technical & Operations Officer · Ferretti Group Aug 2014 – Present
Vice president VERGIATE FAL · Leonardo Dec 2011 – Jul 2014
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Plant Director @ Ferretti Group (Mar 2015 – Present): Luxury & high performance yachts final assembly Shipyard
* Business building20%Production - AW139 Final Assembly Line Manager @ AgustaWestland
Leadership maturity10%Eleven years running a multi-brand plant
Reading. Plant director since 2015 for the group's final-assembly yard and since Apr 2024 for the Ferretti brand too; AgustaWestland AW139 final assembly line manager and manufacturing engineering before; aeronautical engineer.
Career
Plant Director · Ferretti Group Apr 2024 – Present
Plant Director · Ferretti Group Mar 2015 – Present
Production - AW139 Final Assembly Line Manager · AgustaWestland May 2011 – Feb 2015
Manufacturing Engineering - Mechanical's & Structural's Methods Manager · AgustaWestland Jan 2009 – Jun 2011
Manufacturing Engineering - Mechanical's Methods Manager · AgustaWestland Jan 2008 – Dec 2008
Continuous Improvement Engineer · AgustaWestland Jun 2006 – Dec 2007
Manufacturing Engineering - Deputy of NH90 Program Responsible Manager · AgustaWestland Dec 2002 – May 2006
Education
Università di Pisa LAUREA · INGEGNERIA AERONAUTICA; Ecole international de langue et de civilisation françaises Certificat d'Etudes de Français pratique II Degré · lingua francese; Liceo Scientifico F.Enriques (LI)
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Plant Director - Custom Line @ Ferretti Group (May 2017 – Aug 2020); Production Director - NH90 @ Leonardo
* Business building20%Group Purchasing Director @ Ferretti Group (Aug 2020 – Jun 2025)
Leadership maturity10%Chief Quality Sevice and Refit Officer @ Ferretti Group (Jun 2025 – Present)
Reading. Since Jun 2025; group purchasing director 2020-2025, Custom Line plant director 2017-2020; Leonardo helicopter production director, AgustaWestland, Ferrari investment projects; mechanical engineer. An operations C-level who has run a plant, purchasing and now quality and service.
Career
Chief Quality Sevice and Refit Officer · Ferretti Group Jun 2025 – Present
Group Purchasing Director · Ferretti Group Aug 2020 – Jun 2025
Plant Director - Custom Line · Ferretti Group May 2017 – Aug 2020
Production Director - NH90 · Leonardo- divisione elicotteri Dec 2013 – Apr 2017
Production Manager - linea AW109 e CH47 · AgustaWestland Feb 2012 – 2013
Methods & Tooling Manager · AgustaWestland Jan 2010 – Feb 2012
Process & Investment Manager · ZF TRW Mar 2006 – Oct 2009
Responsabile progetti di investimento · Ferrari Jan 2004 – Mar 2006
and 1 earlier roles
Education
Università degli studi di Bologna 90/100 · Laurea in Ingegneria Meccanica
* Technical and pricing20%No evidence in the profile.
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Head of sales of the Pershing brand since 2014, brand manager and EMEA area manager before, at Pershing since 2000. A 25-year single-brand seller of series performance yachts, not custom.
Career
Head Of Sales · Ferretti Group - Pershing and Itama brands Jul 2014 – Present
* Technical and pricing20%Project Manager - Sailing System Dept @ Perini Navi (Jan 2008 – Dec 2011)
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Since Sep 2025 (head of superyacht sales from Jan 2025); TISG sales director 2023-2025, Riva sales, Perini Navi sales from 2012 after four years as a Perini project manager.
Career
Sales Director Custom Business · Ferretti Group Sep 2025 – Present
Head of Sales Superyacht Division · Ferretti Group Jan 2025 – Jan 2026
Sales Director · The Italian Sea Group S.p.A May 2023 – Jan 2025
Sales manager · The Italian Sea Group S.p.A Apr 2022 – May 2023
Sales manager Riva · Ferretti Group Mar 2021 – Apr 2022
Project Manager - Sailing System Dept · Perini Navi Jan 2008 – Dec 2011
and 1 earlier roles
Education
Liceo Classico Carducci (Viareggio, Italy) Diploma · maturità classica; Saint Anthony High School (Kahului, Maui, USA) high school degree · High School Degree (Senior Year)
Languages
Inglese · Full professional proficiency, Italiano · Native or bilingual proficiency
* Commercial leadership30%Custom Line Head of Sales @ Ferretti Group (Jan 2026 – Present)
* Yacht network20%Sales Area Manager @ Custom Line (Jan 2017 – Jan 2026); Sales Manager @ Riva Yacht
* Technical and pricing20%No evidence in the profile.
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%Sales director @ Aicon yachts (Jan 2004 – Feb 2008)
Reading. Since Jan 2026; Custom Line and Riva sales since 2008, Aicon sales director before; law degree.
Career
Custom Line Head of Sales · Ferretti Group Jan 2026 – Present
Sales Area Manager · Custom Line Jan 2017 – Jan 2026
Sales Manager · Riva Yacht Sep 2011 – Jan 2017
Brand Manager RIVA · Ferretti Group Nov 2009 – Jun 2011
Area Manager South Europe · Riva spa Apr 2008 – Nov 2009
Sales director · Aicon yachts Jan 2004 – Feb 2008
Sales & Marketing Manager · Aicon Yachts Jan 2001 – Jan 2004
Purchasing manager · Aicon Yachts Oct 1999 – Jan 2001
Education
Scuola di Notariato Anselmo Anselmi -Roma; Cybersecurity Labs Laurea · Giurisprudenza; Liceo classico G. La Farina Messina Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) · Law
Languages
Inglese · Full professional proficiency, Spagnolo · Elementary proficiency
Reading. CEO since May 2026, installed by the Weichai-backed board after the shareholder fight with KKCG; former global CEO of Duracell, then a decade as adviser and investor; Swiss-based. A consumer-brand CEO with no yacht background, weeks into the seat. No link to the group page.
Career
Chief Executive Officer · Ferretti Group May 2026 – Present
Non Executive Director · NEOSILVER Jan 2022 – Present
Non Executive Director · JS Global Jan 2020 – Present
Non Executive Director · NANFU BATTERY Feb 2018 – Present
Non Executive Director · Better Shelter Dec 2015 – Present
Senior Consultant · PPPpartners Ltd Jan 2024 – Apr 2026
Industry advisor · Triton Partners Feb 2019 – Feb 2024
Non Executive Director · illumigyn Jan 2018 – Feb 2024
and 18 earlier roles
Education
Uppsala University International Business Administration and Marketing
* Commercial leadership30%costruzione e commercializzazione di imbarcazioni ad alte prestazioni per utilizzo militare e professionale
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Direttore industrializzazione di prodotto @ Ferretti Group (Jan 2001 – Mar 2013)
* Business building20%Operations Director @ FSD - Ferretti Security and Defence (Sep 2015 – Present)
Leadership maturity10%Thirteen years in the Italian Navy, 25 at Ferretti
Reading. Runs the group's military and professional fast-boat unit since 2015 (concept, engineering, production and sales); group product industrialisation director 2001-2013; former navy engineer officer and submarine chief engineer; naval and mechanical engineer. Of direct interest to RMK Marine's naval side.
Career
Marine Consultant · Self-employed Jun 2024 – Present
Operations Director · FSD - Ferretti Security and Defence Sep 2015 – Present
Joint Ventures Director · Ferretti Group 2014 – 2015
Direttore industrializzazione di prodotto · Ferretti Group Jan 2001 – Mar 2013
Uff. del Genio Navale - Direttore di Macchina · Marina Militare 1988 – 2001
Education
Universita degli studi di trieste Ingegnere · Navale e meccanico; Accademia Navale di Livorno; Liceo scientifico Nomentano in Roma
* Commercial leadership30%Head of Sales & Marketing - Ferretti Yachts @ Ferretti Group (Jan 2019 – Present)
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Stress Engineer @ Alenia Aeronautica (Apr 2004 – Jan 2008)
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Since 2019; area manager and sales manager at the group since 2009, executive assistant to the group CEO before; aerospace engineer, SDA Bocconi MBA.
Career
Head of Sales & Marketing - Ferretti Yachts · Ferretti Group Jan 2019 – Present
Sales Area Manager EMEA - Ferretti Yachts · Ferretti Group Oct 2012 – Present
Area Manager Latin America · Ferretti Group Sep 2011 – Oct 2012
Sales Manager - Ferretti Yachts · Ferretti Group Oct 2009 – Sep 2011
Executive Assistant to Group CEO · Ferretti Group Feb 2008 – Oct 2009
Stress Engineer · Alenia Aeronautica Apr 2004 – Jan 2008
MBA Summer Project · 3M Jun 2007 – Jul 2007
Education
SDA Bocconi 2007 · MBA; Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Aerospace Engineering
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Leading product development governance for luxury yacht programmes, with executive focus on programme portfolio control, contribution margin, product cost
* Business building20%Head of Vehicle Project Management @ Ducati Motor Holding (Feb 2014 – Apr 2023)
Leadership maturity10%20+ years of experience across premium mobility, performance automotive and luxury yachting
Reading. Since May 2023 from Ducati (head of vehicle project management); programme portfolio, contribution margin and product cost governance.
Career
Project Management Director · Ferretti Group May 2023 – Present
Head of Vehicle Project Management · Ducati Motor Holding Feb 2014 – Apr 2023
Vehicle Project Manager · Ducati Motor Holding Apr 2010 – Feb 2014
Facts and news, with sourcesthe research behind the overview
Show the facts and the dated news with their sources
Identity
Full name: Ferretti S.p.A. (trades as Ferretti Group). Founded 1968 in Forlì by brothers Alessandro and Norberto Ferretti. source
Headquarters: Forlì, Italy.
Yards: seven production sites, all in Italy: Forlì, Cattolica, Ancona (Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard, the largest), Mondolfo, Sarnico, La Spezia, Ravenna. source
Listing: Hong Kong Stock Exchange since March 2022 (stock code 9638); Euronext Milan since June 2023. source
Ownership: Weichai Group (Chinese state-controlled engine maker) took control in 2012; it holds about 39.5% through Ferretti International Holding (FIH). KKCG Maritime (Karel Komárek, Czech Republic) holds about 23.2% after its 2026 partial tender offer. Other disclosed holders: Biglari Holdings 3.4% (2026-03), BNK Holding (Al-Kharafi family) about 3% (2026-01). source 1source 2
Brands: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing, Itama, Riva, Wally (series and semi-custom); Custom Line (made-to-measure); CRN (full custom superyachts). Riva acquired 2000; CRN acquired 1999; Custom Line founded in-house 1996. source
Wally: Ferretti bought the remaining 25% of Sea Lion S.r.l. (owner of the Wally brand) on 2025-07-04 and now owns 100%. source
Size
Employees: about 1,600 plus 2,500 external suppliers (Yacht Style feature, about 2023). No newer company statement found. source
FY2025 (published 2026-02-24): new-yacht net revenue about €1.23 billion (+5%); total net revenue incl. pre-owned €1,280.6 million; net profit about €90.1 million; adjusted EBITDA about €202.8 million (16.5% margin); order intake about €1.13 billion; order book about €1.7 billion. source 1source 2
H1 2026 (approved 2026-07-31): new-yacht net revenue €585.6 million (-5.6%); net profit €37.9 million; order intake €341.4 million (-26.9%), no superyacht orders in the half; net backlog €564.9 million; net cash €95.0 million; full-year guidance cut. source 1source 2
Boat International Global Order Book: not found. Ferretti Group does not appear in the secondary coverage of the 2025 edition (top 10) or the 2026 edition (top 5 named) that was checked. Historically it ranked first (2011, 2018) and second (2019). source 1source 2
Product
Range: about 8 m (Riva runabouts) to 95 m (CRN). Materials: composite (GRP/carbon) for series and most made-to-measure; aluminium for Custom Line 50 and some Riva/Pershing flagships; steel and aluminium for CRN.
Segment sizes FY2025: made-to-measure revenue about €494.6 million (+18.4%); superyacht revenue €190.3 million (+28.1%). source
Notable deliveries 2023–2026: CRN Amor À Vida 67 m (2025-05); Riva 54 Metri Sairu 54 m (launched 2025-08, delivered 2026); Custom Line 50, 50 m (launched 2025-01). CRN Thunderball 70 m launched 2026-06-04. See CRN file and subheadings below.
Board: Tan Ning, Stassi Anastassov, Patrick Sun, Zhang Xiaomei, Jin Zhao, Zhu Yi, Federica Marchionni, Donatella Sciuto, Katarína Kohlmayer (KKCG-linked list), as of 2026-05-14.
Chief Commercial Officer: Giordano Pellacani, as of 2025-09-03. source
Sales director serial business (Riva, Pershing, Itama, Ferretti Yachts): Massimo Jannone, as of 2025-09-03.
Sales director custom business: Vittorio Blengini, as of 2025-09-03.
Former CEO: Alberto Galassi (2014 to 2026-05-14). source
News 2023 to 2026
2026-10
Court of Bologna rejects KKCG's request to suspend the 14 May AGM resolutions; main case hearings expected from November; KKCG says it will continue.boatinternational.comteleborsa.it
2026-07
H1 results: revenue -5.6%, order intake -26.9%, no superyacht orders, guidance cut citing Middle East uncertainty.boatinternational.com
2026-06
KKCG sues in the Court of Bologna to annul the AGM, arguing Weichai's votes were void under Italy's "golden power" rules.teleborsa.it
2026-05
Weichai's slate wins the AGM with 52.3% (8 of 9 seats); Tan Ning chairman; Stassi Anastassov (ex-Duracell, P&G) CEO from 2026-05-15; Alberto Galassi leaves after 12 years; Piero Ferrari and Stefano Domenicali resign from the board on 2026-05-13.pressmare.ityachtbuyer.com
2026-04
KKCG partial offer closes at the raised price of €3.90; about 29.6 million shares tendered; KKCG reaches 23.25%. Board had called the offer inadequate.bairdmaritime.com
2026-01
KKCG Maritime (14.5% holder since the 2023 Milan listing) launches a partial tender offer at €3.50 to reach 29.9% and challenges Weichai's control of the board.en.ilsole24ore.comeqs-news.com
2025-09
Giordano Pellacani named Chief Commercial Officer; sales split into serial (Massimo Jannone) and custom (Vittorio Blengini).pressmare.it
