ADVERTISER’S ANNOUNCEMENT
some additional highly experienced project managers to work alongside Managing Director, Achmet Giourouk and General Manager, Moustafa Ichtiar. As part of this expansion FDL have also acquired established UK and Middle East based yacht painting company Concept Yachts (finishing division) with Concept Yacht’s Kevin Viles joining the FDL team as Commercial Director and adding a UK based office to support FDL’s already established Dutch and German headquarters. So there’s a little back information about where they came from and how they got here, so what makes them tick? Well, from talking to the individual team members you can instantly feel the passion that they have for the industry. Their obsession with time keeping and the perfect finish sits well with the standards expected from the northern
team. Everyone is treated on a personal level whether its work or life
European shipyards.
related – this is what seems to keep this well oiled machine moving.
Chasan (one of the founding partners) who, after 30+ years in
Behind the scenes (and also on the front line) Managing
the industry you could well expect to take more of a back seat, still
Director Achmet is tirelessly working on production systems,
explodes with excitement when you mention the next paint job or
management software and logistical improvements so that everyone
the metallic shoot that is up next. He is notorious amongst the teams
can continuously get on with the job in hand, whilst also being the go
for his habit of arriving, unannounced, at a shipyard and before you
to guy for everything FDL. His work ethic is unquestionable and the
know it wearing a Tyvek paper suit, his mask on, spray gun in hand and
way the company is growing with a rare streamlined approach is quite
being ready to join the boys on the scaffolding! That’s commitment,
impressive to see.
and the enthusiasm really does trickle down from the top. You can
Newly appointed Commercial Director, Kevin, said what we’ve
instantly see the respect from the paint team as they see the bosses
all been thinking, ‘Where have these guys been?’ Well the answer is,
leading at the coal face, simply because they love the job so much.
Finishing De Luxe have always been around, from the very beginning,
The impressive finish that FDL delivers can be seen in marinas all over
modestly completing projects and getting referrals from the captains
the world.
and owners representatives based on the exceptional finish that they
Casually mentioning that they have just finished the repaint of two 90 m sailing yachts (two of the largest in the world)
achieve. ‘No need to shout about it, they will see our work and they will come to us’ has been the mantra.
as a collaboration with Royal Huismans Huisfit team, General
I feel that we are
Manager Moustafa beams with pride at the success of FDL’s latest
going to start to hear a lot
accomplishments. In a very modest way Moustafa explains that their
more about FDL as the cat
mobile refit team has delivered the goods again on two huge projects,
seems to be out of the bag,
while still maintaining the six new build projects at Heesen Yachts.
and like Kevin said, as part
‘We like to keep our teams separate if possible with the right skills
of his new role, ‘The industry
allocated to the right project, we have an amazing new build team for
needs to know, because
large fairing and painting projects along with our globally mobile refit
quite frankly we are leading
team. We’re also lucky enough to have projects running through at all
the way in superyacht painting
stages, so we have a great training program to advance the skills of our
and the management of
teams at all levels, with our filling and fairing paint masters passing
these projects.’
KEVIN VILES
down the expert knowledge that we’ve all gained over decades in the industry’. Again Moustafa’s passion is extremely visible, coupled with a driven work ethic, this seems to be a recurring theme throughout the company. Talking to the management team, you really have to wonder how they have enough hours in the day, travelling the world extensively to present the company to potential new clients, running multiple projects, along with giving a really ‘hands on’ approach
If you would like to learn more about Finishing De Luxe or their
to management with regards to the team. It’s like one big family
services, you can contact them on enquiries@finishing-deluxe.com
(many being actual family). If there is a small problem for one of the painters, it’s not too much of a problem for the FDL management
www.finishing-deluxe.com
YACHTING MATTERS & THE YACHT OWNER ISSUE 37
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