Having been one of the original founders of Princess Yachts in 1965, David King has decided to stand down as Chairman. Citing his wish for new minds to lead the company forward, Mr King will remain a director and focus mainly on new yacht design and development, an area in which he has always been heavily involved.
After a period of consultation, the Princess board of Directors has appointed Philippe Mellier as its new Chairman. Mr Mellier is the CEO of The De Beers Group, the world’s leading diamond company, and was previously the Executive Vice President at Alstom s.a., the world’s leading high-speed train producer. Prior to this, Mr Mellier worked in the automotive sector, holding senior and board-level positions within Ford, Renault and the Volvo Group. He brings to the role uniquely useful experience in high-quality, performance-focused product manufacturing, marketing and sales.