HEESEN YACHTS EXPANDS GLOBAL COMMERCIAL TEAM AHEAD OF AUTUMN YACHT SHOW SEASON
Following a period of significant investment and development under its new Dutch ownership, Heesen Yachts has further strengthened its global commercial presence with the appointment of three senior industry professionals.
Folkert Schoots, Sipke Halbertsma and Roxane Ducruet join Heesen’s commercial team, bringing decades of combined experience across the superyacht industry. Together with the company’s established team in Oss, the appointments enhance Heesen’s direct representation across Europe, the Americas and the Middle East.
Folkert Schoots Appointed Commercial Director: Folkert Schoots joins Heesen as Commercial Director, based at the shipyard’s headquarters in Oss. With more than 14 years of experience at one of the Netherlands’ leading full-custom superyacht builders, Schoots brings extensive expertise spanning marketing, new-build sales, refit and service, and yacht resale.
His broad industry experience and understanding of the Dutch superyacht sector will support Heesen’s commercial strategy as the shipyard continues to strengthen its relationships with clients, brokers and industry partners worldwide.
Sipke Halbertsma to Lead Commercial Operations in the Americas, Dutchman Sipke Halbertsma takes on the role of Commercial Director – America, based at Heesen’s Florida office. Covering the United States and South America, Halbertsma brings extensive knowledge of one of the global superyacht industry’s most active and influential markets.
Having spent more than 12 years with one of the world’s leading Dutch superyacht builders, he will provide a direct link between clients and industry partners throughout the Americas and Heesen’s shipyard operations in Oss.
Roxane Ducruet joins Heesen’s Monaco office as Sales Director – Monaco. With nearly a decade of experience in the Principality’s yachting market, she brings an established network of relationships across the superyacht sector.
Ducruet joins Lyam Last, who is already based in Monaco as Sales Manager, further strengthening Heesen’s presence in one of the world’s most important yachting hubs.
Continued Presence in the Middle East, Hisham Abushakra remains Heesen’s designated Sales Agent in Dubai, continuing his long-standing relationship with the shipyard and maintaining the brand’s established presence in this important market.
The expanded commercial structure brings Heesen closer to its clients and key industry stakeholders, including brokers and captains. By strengthening its presence across strategic international markets, the shipyard aims to provide more direct and responsive support through professionals who combine in-depth local market knowledge with a strong understanding of the Heesen brand, its engineering expertise and its craftsmanship.
Commenting on the appointments, Jeroen van der Meer, CEO of Heesen Yachts, said: “We enter the autumn yacht show season with a highly experienced commercial team. Our focus remains exactly where it belongs: building reliable yachts and working alongside the brokers and clients who trust our engineering and craftsmanship. The global team is in place, and we are already hard at work.”
The strengthened commercial team positions Heesen for the upcoming autumn yacht show season while reinforcing the shipyard’s commitment to building closer relationships with clients, brokers and industry professionals across its key international markets.
