Oss builder of 50 to 60 m aluminium and steel yachts in series, smart-custom and full-custom lines, with a new owner and a new top team.
1978
Founded
Laurens Last, TSAL Holding, since Apr 2025
Owner
EUR 209 m · 2024
Revenue
about 400 staff, as many contractors
People
19th · 8 projects, 434 m
Rank
50 to 60 m · custom to 80 m
Range
What happened, 2023 to 2026
Nov 2023Top seatCFO Niels Vaessen becomes CEO after Arthur Brouwer
Aug 2024Top seatRuud van der Stroom CCO, replacing Mark Cavendish after 16 years
Apr 2025OwnerLaurens Last buys the yard from the sanctions-era foundation
Aug 2025Top seatJeroen van der Meer, an industrial outsider, named CEO; Vaessen leaves
Apr 2026BuildMonaco sales office opens
Sep 2026Top seatThree new commercial leaders: Oss, Americas, Monaco
What it adds up to. Three CEOs and two CCOs in three years, then a new owner who rebuilt the whole senior layer within twelve months.
Who runs it
Chief Executive Officersince 2025
Commercial Directorsince 2026
Director of Sales and Marketingsince 2008
General Production Manager
Operations Directorsince 2026
Director Design & Development / Engineeringsince 2026
Financial Directorsince 2026
Organisation. New owner; outside CEO rebuilt the top team; commercial split by territory
What it shows for a new yard. The template for a new owner's first year: an outside CEO, then every senior seat refilled, commercial split by territory.
Former leaders now elsewhere8 people who held a top or senior seat here
now CFO at Optisport
now Founder at Fossani V.O.F.
now Chief Commercial Officer at Baglietto spa
now Managing Director & Co-Founder at Nauticworx.com
now Uitvoerend directeur at Oceanco
now Company Owner at The NERA Company B.V.
now Sales Director at Feadship at Feadship
now Commercial Director at Sichterman Yachts
The top team as read on LinkedIn16 people read as staff, October 2026
CEO (industrial outsider, Sep 2025) over a renewed senior layer: three commercial seats (Commercial Director Europe, Commercial Director Americas, Sales Director Monaco) beside a long-serving Director of Sales and Marketing; Operations Director; Director Design & Development / Engineering; Director Technical Services & After Sales; Director Procurement & Supply Chain; Financial Director; HR Director.
Almost the whole top team changed between Sep 2025 and Sep 2026 after the ownership change: CEO, HR, finance, operations, procurement, after sales and two commercial directors are all new in the seat. The two people who carry the yard's memory are the engineering director (since 2007) and the sales and marketing director (since 2008). Commercial is split by territory with a strong Feadship bloodline (both new commercial directors came from Feadship), and the vendor's manager tag shows nobody titled COO or CCO: the CEO holds the integration.
Top seat
Senior layer · 11
Sales and marketing 4
Engineering and design 1
Production and operations 2
Projects, service and after-sales 1
Purchasing and supply chain 1
Finance, legal and IT 1
People 1
Managers · 4
Production and operations 1
Purchasing and supply chain 1
Finance, legal and IT 2
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 Heesen Yachts6 in the pools; the shortlisted first, then by tier and score
Peter Van Der Zanden
Director Design & Development / Engineering at Heesen Yachts · 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands
* Commercial leadership30%End responsible for pre-design, design, cost acounting and the full engineering process from prospect phase till delivery
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%General Manager Design & Development and Engineering @ Heesen Yachts (Sep 2007 – Present)
* Business building20%Managing 5 departments
Leadership maturity10%19 years in one seat through several owners and CEOs
Reading. End responsible for pre-design, design, cost accounting and engineering of 50-80 m yachts since 2007, five departments; TU Delft naval architect, Oceanco project manager before. The strongest technical seat on this roster and a natural COO half of a two-person model.
Career
Director Design & Development / Engineering · Heesen Yachts Jan 2026 – Present
General Manager Design & Development and Engineering · Heesen Yachts Sep 2007 – Present
Project Manager · Expertise en InnovatieCentrum Binnenvaart (EICB) Sep 2006 – Aug 2007
Project Manager · Oceanco Mar 2000 – Aug 2006
Project coordinator/engineer · Van der Giessen-de Noord May 1994 – Feb 2000
Medewerker Research · Damen Shipyards May 1993 – May 1994
Education
Delft University of Technology Master’s Degree · Martime Technology; Citycollege Rotterdam; TU Delft Master's Degree · Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
* Commercial leadership30%Sales Director Europe @ Fuji Seal Europe (Jan 1998 – Jul 2007)
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%BSC · Mechanical Engineering
* Business building20%CEO @ COMEXI GROUP (Oct 2014 – Jan 2020); CEO EMEA @ Scholle IPN
Leadership maturity10%Three CEO or COO seats in industrial groups before Heesen
Reading. CEO since Sep 2025, brought in with the new ownership. Industrial outsider: CEO of Comexi and Scholle IPN EMEA (packaging machinery), COO of Takween; mechanical engineer who began in sales. The archetype the brief describes (engineering, then sales, then general management) but from outside yachting and one year into the seat. A benchmark of how a new owner staffs the top, not a mover.
* Commercial leadership30%Director of Sales and Marketing @ Heesen Shipyard (Dec 2008 – Present)
* Yacht network20%Director of Sales and Marketing @ Benetti (Jan 2001 – Nov 2007)
* Technical and pricing20%No evidence in the profile.
* Business building20%Director @ Cavendish White Ltd (1989 – 1999)
Leadership maturity10%17 years in the seat through ownership changes
Reading. Heesen's sales head since 2008; Benetti Director of Sales and Marketing 2001-2007; brokerage owner before that (Cavendish White). The deepest owner and broker network on the roster; career began 1983, so an adviser-type profile for RMK rather than a greenfield GM.
Career
Director of Sales and Marketing · Heesen Shipyard Dec 2008 – Present
Director of Sales and Marketing · Benetti Jan 2001 – Nov 2007
Director · Cavendish White Ltd 1989 – 1999
Director · Halsey Marine Ltd 1986 – 1989
Sales · Halsey Marine Ltd 1983 – 1986
Education
College of Nautical Studies, Warsash; Kings College Taunton
* Yacht network20%Business Development Manager @ Feadship (Jan 2022 – Jan 2025)
* Technical and pricing20%No evidence in the profile.
* Business building20%Founding Chairman @ Young Professionals in Yachting
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Commercial Director since Sep 2026 (the appointment the brief mentions). Twelve years at Feadship and De Vries: marketing, after sales, business development, resale. Commercial through and through, no technical or P&L seat yet; a strong second-line name rather than a GM today.
Career
Commercial Director · Heesen Yachts Sep 2026 – Present
Feadship Resale - Commercial & Operations Manager · Feadship Jan 2025 – Aug 2026
Business Development Manager · Feadship Jan 2022 – Jan 2025
Business Development & Operations · Feadship Sep 2018 – Jan 2022
Founding Chairman · Young Professionals in Yachting (YPY) The Netherlands Sep 2016 – May 2020
After Sales & Yacht Services Coordinator · Koninklijke de Vries Scheepsbouw Aalsmeer Feb 2016 – Oct 2018
Sales Assistant · Koninklijke de Vries Scheepsbouw Aalsmeer Jul 2014 – Feb 2016
Marketing Assistant · Feadship Aug 2013 – Jul 2014
and 1 earlier roles
Education
University of Westminster BA (HONS) · International Business; Nyenrode New Business School BA (HONS) · Entrepreneurship
* Yacht network20%Commercial Director - America @ Heesen Yachts (Aug 2026 – Present), Miami
* Technical and pricing20%No evidence in the profile.
* Business building20%Owner & Founder @ Yacht Consult (Mar 2011 – Mar 2015)
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Feadship Commercial Director 2018-2026 (sales manager from 2015), moved to Heesen Aug 2026 to run the Americas from Miami. Pure sales career, marketing degree; no general management or technical role.
Career
Commercial Director - America · Heesen Yachts Aug 2026 – Present
Commercial Director · Feadship Aug 2018 – Jul 2026
Sales Manager · Feadship Mar 2015 – Aug 2018
Owner & Founder · Yacht Consult Mar 2011 – Mar 2015
Sales Consultant & MT-lid · VOC Maatwerk Dec 2010 – Oct 2011
Intern · Mulder Hardenberg Jul 2010 – Dec 2010
Founder · School in a Can Feb 2009 – Jul 2010
Organiser, and marketing assistent · St Maarten Yacht Club Aug 2008 – Feb 2009
Education
Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences Bachelor · Marketing; Sint Nicolaas Lyceum Amsterdam High School · HAVO
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%Manager Customer Support & After Sales @ Heesen Yachts (Mar 2016 – Jul 2020)
* Technical and pricing20%General Manager Production @ Heesen Yachts (Jan 2023 – Dec 2025)
* Business building20%Planner (2006) to Operations Director (2026) through purchasing, after sales and production
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Operations Director since Jan 2026 after 20 years inside Heesen: planner, purchasing, after sales, GM Production 2023-2025. Insider who grew through every operational function; no sales or P&L role.
Career
Operations Director · Heesen Yachts Jan 2026 – Present
General Manager Production · Heesen Yachts Jan 2023 – Dec 2025
Manager Projects & After Sales · Heesen Yachts Jul 2020 – Jan 2023
Manager Customer Support & After Sales · Heesen Yachts Mar 2016 – Jul 2020
Contract Manager Purchasing · Heesen Yachts Aug 2014 – Mar 2016
Assistent General Manager Purchasing · Heesen Yachts Jan 2012 – Aug 2014
Project Leader Process Improvements/ Purchaser · Heesen Yachts Jan 2009 – Dec 2011
Planner · Heesen Yachts Aug 2006 – Dec 2008
Education
de Baak High Performance Leadership; de Baak Young Executives Program; Instituut Jeroen Bosch Business English
Facts and news, with sourcesthe research behind the overview
Show the facts and the dated news with their sources
Identity
Full name: Heesen Yachts (Heesen Shipyards B.V. trading name not confirmed). source
Founded: 1978 by Frans Heesen; still operates from the same base in Oss, the Netherlands.
Headquarters and main yard: Rijstraat 2, Oss. Yard has 8 sheds, 6 dry docks, 22,000 m2 of sheds and workshops, 4.4 hectares, an 85-metre dry dock (2016 expansion), construction capability up to 83 m.
Second site: Heesen Interiors, Winterswijk (8,100 m2 of interior workshops).
Ownership: since April 2025, Dutch entrepreneur Laurens Last through his family office TSAL Holding; price undisclosed; full acquisition of the shipyard reported (exact stake not stated). Before that: owned from 2008 by Russian billionaire Vagit Alekperov (via Cyprus-based Morcell Ltd); after EU sanctions in 2022 it was put in an independent Dutch foundation. source
Laurens Last also sits on the SIG Group AG board (since April 2022).
Sister brands: none found.
Size
Employees: "more than 1,000" workforce including internal and external employees and subcontractors (press kit, October 2025, URL above). The Oss careers page says close to 400 own staff plus a similar number of subcontractors and temporary workers (undated page) source
Revenue: EUR 209 million in 2024 (record), EBITDA EUR 17 million. source
Boat International Global Order Book 2026 (data as of 1 September 2025): rank 19, 8 projects, 434 m total, average 54.3 m. GOB 2025: rank 17, 651 m. source
More than 200 yachts built since 1978.
Product
Size range: specialises in 50 to 60 m; custom yachts up to 80 m.
Hull materials: steel and aluminium (aluminium hulls with its Fast Displacement Hull Form, FDHF, for speed and fuel efficiency).
Three build lines ("families"), press kit October 2025.
Series: built on speculation, before a buyer signs; shortest delivery time. Current models: 50 m Aluminium semi-displacement, 50 m Aluminium FDHF, 50 m Steel FDHF, 55 m Steel FDHF, 57 m Aluminium FDHF.
Full custom: blank sheet or pre-engineered concept (examples: Genesis, Sparta, Ultra G, all 2023). New full-custom concepts on offer: XVenture 67 (67 m, Winch Design) and Monte Carlo (62 m, Harrison Eidsgaard).
Flagship: Genesis, 80 m, full aluminium, delivered 2023 (largest Heesen).
Notable deliveries 2023 to 2026.
Genesis, 80 m, 2023; Sparta, 2023; Ultra G, 2023 (lengths not stated in source).
Pa'lante (YN 21055, ex Project Frida), 55 m smart custom, June 2026. source
Leadership
Owner: Laurens Last (TSAL Holding) — as of 2025-04-07. source
CEO: Jeroen van der Meer (since September 2025) — as of 2026-09-07. source
Commercial Director: Folkert Schoots (Oss) — as of 2026-09-07. Same source.
Commercial Director America: Sipke Halbertsma — as of 2026-09-07. Same source.
Sales Director Monaco: Roxane Ducruet — as of 2026-09-07. Same source.
Sales Manager Monaco: Lyam Last — as of 2026-09-07. Same source.
Director Technical Services and After Sales: Eric Boers — as of 2026-07-02. source
Chief Commercial Officer: Ruud van der Stroom — as of 2024-08-28 (appointment). Current status not confirmed; see open points. source
Former: Niels Vaessen, CEO 2023-11 to 2025-08. source
News 2023 to 2026
2026-09
Heesen hires three commercial leaders: Folkert Schoots as Commercial Director (Oss), Sipke Halbertsma as Commercial Director America (Florida), Roxane Ducruet as Sales Director Monaco.heesenyachts.com
2026-07
Heesen launches 57 m full-custom Project Setteesettanta (YN 20857), and appoints Eric Boers Director Technical Services and After Sales.heesenyachts.com
2026-04
Heesen opens a Monaco sales office and appoints Lyam Last as Sales Manager.heesenyachts.com
2025-08
Jeroen van der Meer named CEO from September 2025; Niels Vaessen leaves by mutual agreement after 13 years (CFO, then CEO).heesenyachts.com
2025-04
Laurens Last buys Heesen through TSAL Holding, ending interim ownership by a Dutch foundation; 2024 revenue EUR 209 million reported.superyachtnews.com
2024-08
Ruud van der Stroom named Chief Commercial Officer from 1 September 2024, replacing Mark Cavendish who retired after 16 years.heesenyachts.com
2023-11
Niels Vaessen becomes CEO on 1 November 2023, after Arthur Brouwer (CEO 2014 to late 2023).superyachtnews.com
2023
Delivery of Genesis, 80 m, the largest Heesen and a full-aluminium full-custom yacht.
