HanseYachts renews its board and takes two debuts to Cannes

HanseYachts AG has completed the renewal of its governing bodies and comes to the Cannes Yachting Festival, from 8 to 13 September 2026, with two world premieres. The Greifswald group considers the company's long-term financing secured and links the changes to its management structure to that condition.

Holger Passauer has been the sole member of the management board since December 2025. The supervisory board was also renewed, in the first quarter of 2026, and is now chaired by Hans Reichhart, formerly Bavarian state minister for housing, building and transport.

Sales and marketing go to Maxim Neumann, appointed chief sales officer. Neumann has worked at HanseYachts AG for decades and has established relationships with the international dealer network and with the marine industry. In recent months, under his responsibility, the company has signed new partners and expanded its sales network.

Technical management goes to Franz Zeiser, chief technology officer. Zeiser has leadership experience in the international marine industry and has held senior production management roles at large shipyards.

"With Franz Zeiser we gain a recognised expert in the sector, with international experience and a solid track record in production management. We are very pleased to have him with us for the road ahead," said Holger Passauer.

The Hanse 461 makes its world debut in Cannes. The design is by Berret-Racoupeau and follows Hanse's Easy Sailing concept: a deck laid out for simple handling, a self-tacking jib as standard, and control of the main sailing functions from the helm station, so that the boat can be sailed with a small crew. On board there are a beach club and an interior with generous natural light, with solutions intended for long-distance cruising. The model develops the concept of the Hanse 460.

The second world premiere is the FJORD 440 Open, which combines the open architecture typical of the brand with a redesigned cockpit. The outdoor living area has a central dining zone. The aft bench is reversible and electrically adjustable: at the push of a button it becomes a lounge. The project includes a 55-inch television built into the T-top, a hydraulic bathing platform and a two-cabin layout below deck, developed with Design Unlimited. Power output reaches up to 960 hp.

The company also states that it intends to use new technologies and artificial intelligence in the marine field, and to carry the results of this work into product development.

"We are pursuing our development strategy consistently across all areas of the company. We are deliberately relying on the combination of long experience within HanseYachts, in-depth knowledge of the sector and the markets, the relationships built up over the years with our dealers, and at the same time new perspectives, additional expertise from outside and new developments across all brands. In this way we combine continuity with new impulses and create a solid basis for the next phase of growth," said Maxim Neumann, chief sales officer of HanseYachts AG.

According to the company, the reorganisation has already had an effect on order intake and on the growth of revenue and earnings. Part of this performance is attributed by the company to the commitment of the employees at its two plants, who contribute to meeting delivery deadlines.

"Our thanks also go to our dealers and customers for their trust. Together we want to grow HanseYachts further, with solid products, high quality and a clear focus on international markets. Our ambition is to continue to excite customers with our boats and to grow sustainably together with our partners," added Holger Passauer.

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