The yachting world continues to become more international, with English as the leading language both onboard and ashore. This is why Monaco Marine have continued to bring on bi-lingual speakers to maximize the relationships with the clients. Jonny Sutton, originally from the UK and fluent in French, made the move from London to join Monaco Marine at the beginning of the year.
Jonny joined the group within the commercial team, which now boasts a strong combination of English, French and Italian speakers. The team is currently growing with a focus on becoming more internationally minded. “My role is to build and strengthen the relationships we have with the key individuals involved in the refit and repair process. Whether that be the Captain, Yacht Manager or the Owner and their advisors, my objective is to increase the industry's positive awareness of the Monaco Marine network and the capabilities of each of our shipyards”, explains Jonny.
Jonny Sutton: an English spin on yachting in France
Jonny Sutton joined Monaco Marine in February 2019 as a Business Developer. Previously an Account Director for The Superyacht Group, he has worked in the yachting world for around 4 years. He shares with us his point of view of yachting in France!
You joined Monaco Marine just over 6 months ago. Why did you choose our group?
In my previous job I used to work closely with Monaco Marine, and have always respected them very highly. They are one of the most significant players when it comes to the refit sector and are investing a huge amount into developing their shipyard network. The expansion plan for the future looks very exciting and I'm glad I can be a part of this next era.
What are your main objectives in this new job?
The most important focus for me is to make sure that anytime a superyacht is considering going through a refit period or having some maintenance work done, that they are fully aware of everything that Monaco Marine has to offer, and we are the first port of call. It is then my role to ensure the process and experience from start to finish is as seamless and positive as possible for all the parties involved.
Why did you choose France to live?
I've been a regular visitor of the South of France since I was very young and used to live in Nice back in 2012. In my mind, the Riviera is up there with the top places to be. There aren't many locations in the world that you can get from the beach to a ski resort in just over an hour’s drive.
Why did you learn French?
I used to live in Brussels when I was very young and started to learn the language there, I kept studying it ever since then all the way through school, university, and beyond.
What is your English point of view on French world of yachting?
I'm here to make friends not enemies, the French are perfect...! Nevertheless, there is no easy way to describe the yachting industry, it’s been almost four years now, and it's rare to go a day without a new experience. You have to be ready for anything, as once you join the circus you're hooked for life!
