SEBASTIANO FANIZZA APPOINTED AS THE NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF NEXT YACHT GROUP
Next Yacht Group, owner of the AB Yachts and Maiora brands, announces the appointment of Sebastiano Fanizza as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective April 2, 2025.
Born in 1978, Sebastiano Fanizza boasts a successful multi-year career in the luxury yachting industry, having held leadership roles at some of the world’s most prestigious companies. A graduate in Mechanical Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Turin, he began his career in the automotive sector at Iveco, before transitioning to the yachting industry, where he distinguished himself through his strategic vision and commercial capabilities.
In 2005 joining Azimut Yachts, he quickly rose through the ranks to become the Sales and Service Director for the EMEA and APAC regions, where he significantly strengthened the brand’s presence in Asia, with a particular focus on the Chinese market, further cementing Azimut’s leadership in these regions.
In 2015, at the invitation of Leonardo Ferragamo, he joined Nautor Swan as Commercial and Business Development Director, where he restructured the sales network and drove significant growth in the order book. In 2018, he was asked by Paolo Vitelli to return to the Azimut Benetti Group as Chief Commercial Officer of Benetti Yachts, where he played a pivotal role in consolidating Benetti’s leadership in the mega and giga yacht segment, with outstanding commercial results.
Throughout his career, Sebastiano Fanizza has demonstrated a remarkable ability to anticipate market trends, embrace technological innovation, and focus on enhancing the customer experience. With his appointment, Next Yacht Group will benefit from a solid and visionary leadership, capable of further consolidating the team, especially by strengthening the commercial, communication, marketing, and product innovation areas, while consolidating and expanding the distinctive position of the MAIORA and AB Yachts brands on the international yachting scene.
His appointment also marks a crucial moment for the Group, boosting its organizational development, talent enhancement, and process optimization, all supported by a solid governance model focused on sustainable
growth.
“Taking the helm at Next Yacht Group is more than just a new chapter in my career; it’s a chance to shape the future of a company with extraordinary potential,” said Sebastiano Fanizza. “I’m excited to work alongside a great team to bring new energy to two extraordinary brands like MAIORA and AB Yachts. Together, we will continue to push boundaries, blending Italian craftsmanship with smart innovation to offer our clients something that truly reflects their vision of life at sea, and from that experience, we are already imagining a new way of living onboard, beyond today’s conventions.”
Next Yacht Group continues on its path of growth and consolidation that, since the Group’s founding in 2021,
has seen a 110% increase in its workforce, a strengthened management team, and the acquisition of strategic
new production sites in 2024.
