Heesen Expands Global Commercial Team Across Europe, America and Monaco

Heesen Yachts has expanded its global commercial team with three senior appointments as the Dutch builder strengthens direct representation across Europe, the Americas and Monaco. Folkert Schoots joins as Commercial Director, Sipke Halbertsma takes responsibility for the American market, and Roxane Ducruet joins the Monaco office as Sales Director.

Folkert Schoots leads commercial activity from Oss

Folkert Schoots has joined Heesen as Commercial Director and is based at the company’s shipyard in Oss. He brings more than fourteen years of experience with a leading Dutch full-custom superyacht builder, covering marketing, new-build sales, refit, service and brokerage activity.

His role places overall commercial leadership close to the engineering and construction teams responsible for Heesen’s current build programme. That proximity can help align client discussions with yard capacity, technical feasibility and the production schedules behind both speculative and custom yacht projects.

Sipke Halbertsma takes the lead in America

Sipke Halbertsma becomes Commercial Director – America and is based from Heesen’s Florida office. The United States remains one of the world’s most important superyacht ownership and brokerage markets, giving the builder a dedicated senior commercial presence closer to American clients, advisers and brokers.

Local representation also matters after delivery because owners often maintain long-term relationships with builders through warranty, refit, resale and future new-build discussions. Heesen’s decision strengthens continuity between the Dutch shipyard and a market that contributes heavily to global large-yacht demand.

Roxane Ducruet strengthens the Monaco office

Roxane Ducruet joins as Sales Director in Monaco, placing another senior representative in one of the superyacht industry’s most concentrated ownership and brokerage centres. Her role complements Heesen’s existing Monaco activity and gives the company a permanent point of contact for clients moving between the Mediterranean, Middle East and wider European market.

Monaco is particularly valuable because builders, brokers, family offices, designers and owner representatives are based within a compact business network. A stronger local team therefore supports relationship-building outside the short window of major yacht shows and scheduled shipyard visits.

Appointments follow investment under Dutch ownership

Heesen says the expansion follows a period of investment and development under its new Dutch ownership. The builder continues to market both custom and series-based yachts while maintaining a pipeline of projects at its Oss facilities, making commercial coordination increasingly important as the order book evolves.

Superyacht Guide is treating the appointments as a business-development story rather than a yacht-specific sales announcement. The significance lies in Heesen increasing senior coverage across three key regions while keeping global commercial leadership directly connected to the shipyard and its construction programme.

Official sources: www.heesenyachts.com; www.heesenyachts.com.