INSPIRATION MARINE - Key Persons
Andy started in the marine industry world with yacht deliveries back in 1977 before joining Brighton Marina at its infancy. He enjoyed his 21st birthday whilst a cruising Instructor at the National Sailing Centre before returning to education and the Yacht and Boatyard Management course. He then worked with Hunter Boats for 23 years, gaining a degree level award in Business Administration and becoming Sales Manager.
Joining Michael Schmidt & Partner as Brokerage Manager in 2007, Andy has sat on the Committee of the Association of Yacht Brokers and Agents for more than 15 years, developing their Introduction to Yacht Brokering course to a professional level and being part of the team preparing the new ABYA Academy which promotes professionalism in Yacht Brokerage.
Away from work he enjoys a bit of social fixed seat rowing with Hamble River Rowing club based at the Jolly Sailor pub in Bursledon which he instigated with two others and this in turn has grown immensely, the club could be described as a drinking club with a rowing problem but they regularly compete successfully in National fixed seat rowing competitions. To relax Andy enjoys his family and dabbling in art with the Southampton Urban Sketchers and working in acrylic and water colour.
Carly joined the Michael Schmidt team from a local manufacturing company in Southampton where she had experience of a complex accounting function and working to ISO9001 accreditation. Since joining the Inspiration Marine Group, Carly has assisted James with managing the finance function of the Group including New Boat Sales and Brokerage Transactions. She can often be found chasing the staff for their expenses whilst ensuring the day to day accounting function of the Group runs smoothly.
In her spare time Carly enjoys spending time with her extended family and friends and has a fondness for exotic and weird flavoured Gins!
Chris recently relocated to Kip from our Hamble office, after being part of the Inspiration Marine engineering team. He spent several years working on superyachts, cruising in the Med and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining us he also gained experience of the Group Beneteau brands, and at Hamble he worked on commissioning new boats from Hanse, Moody, Dehler and Fjord. Together with his great enthusiasm, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge of both motor and sailing yachts to his role as yacht broker.
When he's not working Chris likes to get out on the water, watch a game of rugby and get out into the hills to walk his dog.
Eliot joined the Inspiration team with a background in skippering and engineering. Having grown up sailing on the South Coast, he started his maritime career in the super yachting industry and from there found the urge to achieve his yachtmaster offshore. A week after passing his exam, Eliot ventured off to the Mediterranean where he began the next stage of his career, skippering both monohulls and catamarans mainly in Croatia. Returning to England, Eliot began his time in engineering and a few years later started here at Inspiration Marine as a commissioning engineer before moving into the Sales team a year later. Aside from boating, he is an avid golfer, playing mostly at Alresford golf club. He also has a passion for cricket and football.
James is our Brokerage Manager at Kip Marina and grew up sailing on the West Coast of Scotland with his family. After studying ‘Naval Architecture and Yacht Design' at Strathclyde University James spent many years pursuing a career ‘on the water' from teaching sailing and delivering yachts to working on the Mediterranean Super Yacht circuit. James loves matching our client's boats with happy buyers and being part of the journey for both parties. Sailing his own Sigma 33 ‘Tattie Scone' out of Kip Marina James is lucky enough to have one of the shortest ‘commutes' between office and boat that we know of!
James has a background in Financial Services and spent a number of years with an accountancy firm on the South Coast along with a stint in London but eventually jumped ship to the marine industry to be able to combine his love of "bean counting" and boats. His day-to-day role includes overseeing the Finance Function and regulatory compliance of the Group as Finance Director, as well as managing the IT, HR, general business operations and growth opportunities of the group alongside Phil. James is a keen powerboater, looks after the Fjord and Ballistic RIB clients on the new boat side and is also on the committee of the British Marine Boat Retailers and Brokers Association.
As the legal owner of Scrumpy the Labrador (although you would not think so the way she ignores him), James enjoys getting out in the country around Hampshire and Dorset with her and his wife and is partial to a spot of fly fishing, playing the drums and ruining his weekends watching England play rugby.
Job Titles:
- Yacht Sales Assistant, Scotland
Jenny is our uber Brokerage assistant at Kip Marina, as a long standing and multi-talented member of our team she brings a whole lot of experience and knowledge to the table. Jenny always has a smile on her face and is very much a ‘people person'… she loves getting to know our clients and helping them safely navigate the boat buying and selling waters. With a penchant for shopping and a passion for stylish jackets Jenny can sniff out a bargain from a mile off (how many jackets is too many jackets?).
Phil has spent his working life in the marine industry. Initially as a yacht cruising instructor in the Mediterranean for several years and later managing the UK sales for the Hanse Yachts range. An education in accountancy, economics and later, business administration has paved the way to a suitable skill set to run the Inspiration Marine Group today. Phil's day to day role is managing the sales function of the group, striving to lead the industry in terms of service and innovation, alongside a mantra of always putting the customer first.
In his "day" a keen windsurfer and wakeboarder, the on water activities now tend to be more sedate including sailing and a surfing (when he finds himself in the right place). Away from the sea, cycling and walking the office bin inspector (Labrador Inka) are top of the list of things to do.