30 May 2024

British Marine has announced the appointment of five new non-executive directors to its board, effective from 18 July 2024. These appointments were made following a vote at the recent British Marine Council, which represents the interests of the membership. The board positions attracted a range of high-quality and experienced applicants, and the newly appointed directors are poised to bring a wealth of diverse expertise and innovative approaches that will fortify the organisation’s strategy and enhance its continued success.

The new board members are:

• Paul Knox-Johnston - Sales & Marketing Manager at Haven Knox-Johnston
• Miles Moorhouse - Head of Marketing at Fairline Yachts Ltd
• Luke Morrison - CEO/Managing Director of Rooster Sailing Ltd
• Carl Onens (Treasurer) – Managing Director of ABC Leisure Group Limited
• Malcolm Stewart – Head of Commercial Marine at Haven Knox-Johnston

Paul Knox-Johnston: Paul is the Head of Marketing for Haven Knox-Johnston and current chair of British Marine’s Professional Services Association. Born into the marine industry, it has remained in his DNA for over 50 years. His career has spanned a broad spectrum, encompassing boat sales, yacht charters, marine finance and most recently insurance, where he has been instrumental in bringing back the well-respected Haven Knox-Johnston name.

He is also passionate about supporting young talent and championing the next generation to work within the marine community. With an all-round love of being out on the water, Paul regularly participates in yacht racing as well as taking advantage of every opportunity to get out on the inland waterways.

"I am honoured to have been asked to join the board of British Marine. Having served as Chair of the British Marine Professional Services Association for the past 2 years, I am incredibly proud of the support that British Marine provides to the industry and have seen firsthand the value that the organisation brings. I look forward to continuing this work on the board and contributing to the ongoing success and growth of the marine industry in the UK,” commented Paul.

Miles Moorhouse:  Miles is Head of Marketing at Fairline Yachts Ltd and has worked in the leisure marine sector for 16 years, primarily at Fairline, with a brief period at Sunseeker, overseeing global marketing initiatives. His early background is 100% automotive, having held positions at Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Group in the UK. Prior to that, he worked in the dynamic advertising world of 1990s London, at renowned agencies Grey and Ogilvy & Mather.

Miles brings a wealth of skills and experience to the table, specialising in marketing communications, event and exhibition management, public relations, customer relationship management, and product management.

“I’m particularly looking forward to bringing my experience of international boat shows to British Marine and being an active member of the team that propels the Southampton International Boat Show to wider audiences – both in terms of exhibitors and visitors,” Miles commented. 

Luke Morrison: Luke is the CEO/Managing Director of Rooster Sailing LTD, an international company specialising in the design, manufacture, and distribution of technical sailing apparel and accessories. His career spans both the commercial and voluntary sectors. He began in the medical surgical device industry but soon transitioned to the marine industry, joining Rooster to focus on business development and growth. In his current role, he has guided the company through challenging times, maintaining stability, and driving new growth.

A lifelong dinghy sailor, Luke enjoys sailing with his wife Kate, mostly in small boats, and cruising along the south coast on their larger boat. He has served as a Club Commodore and Trustee at Hill Head Sailing Club and has been honoured with an RYA Community Award for his contributions to the sailing community. In 2022, he was also recognised as Boating Business Young Businessperson of the Year.

“I am delighted to accept a position as Non-Executive Director with British Marine. Coming from Rooster, a very typical SME and with a passion for wanting to make sure members in any form of organisation are listened to and represented well, I look forward to supporting the board and helping to move our marine industry forward with good stability and exciting growth,” commented Luke.

Carl Onens: Carl is the Managing Director of ABC Leisure Group Limited, which owns and operates 17 inland waterway marinas across the UK with 200 self-drive self-catering holiday narrowboats for hire, around 1,000 private moorings, a narrowboat builder and repairer, chandler, and a boat management operation, with caravan sites and holiday cottages.

Prior to joining ABC Leisure Group as Finance Director in 2006 Carl worked in the finance functions of several multi-million-pound turnover international organisations. He recently completed a four-year term as an elected business boating representative on the Canal and Rivers trust council.

He has a degree in Economics from Birmingham City University and is a Chartered Management Accountant.

“I feel very privileged to be appointed as British Marine's treasurer. I have a long-standing association with British Marine having worked within the industry for almost 20 years and look forward to help with the vital role representing members,” Carl commented.

Malcolm Stewart: Malcolm is the head of Haven Knox Johnson Commercial Insurance Brokers and has been assistant Chair of the Professional Services committee for the last 3 years and a member of the committee for the previous three years. He is well known for championing young people into the marine industry though work with the MTA awards, Seawork exhibition and internally within the HKJ parent company. A lifelong competitive sailor, Malcolm brings a different perspective to the board by seeing the Marine industry as a user of it as well a supplier to it.

“I am pleased to be joining the board at an exciting time for the marine industry. Having worked in this wonderful sector for over 20 years, I look forward to providing support to British Marine helping to develop and grow our incredibly diverse industry,” Malcolm commented.

British Marine is also delighted to announce the appointment of Lyndsay McClay as the new President-Elect. As the Commercial Manager for Marine Industry News, Lyndsay brings a wealth of experience and vision to the helm. She will serve as President-Elect for two years from July 2024 before assuming the role of President in July 2026.

On her appointment Lyndsay commented: “I'm incredibly honoured to be voted in as President-Elect of British Marine. Since I joined the industry in 2015, I've aimed to support the amazing people who are the backbone of our sector. I'm really looking forward to working with our President, Chair, fellow board members and the entire British Marine team to drive success and innovation for the whole industry.”

All the new appointments have been welcomed by British Marine CEO, Lesley Robinson who commented: “We are delighted to welcome such a talented group of professionals to our board. Each new director brings a wealth of experience and a new perspective that is vital for our continued strategic progress. Their diverse expertise will undoubtedly strengthen British Marine's ability to champion the UK marine industry. I look forward to working closely with them and with our President-Elect, Lyndsay McClay, to navigate the exciting opportunities ahead.”

British Marine is looking forward to the fresh perspectives and dedicated leadership the new board members and President-Elect will bring to the organisation. Their collective experience and commitment are expected to drive significant growth and innovation in the marine industry.