Morris Yachts has opened a new sales office at Newport Shipyard in Newport, RI, and hired three new sales professionals. In celebration, Morris Yachts is christening their newest M52, a modern classic sailing yacht, and keeping her in Newport waters this summer along with two other boats, an M36 and M29, for test sails and demos.
With sales offices and service yards in Bass Harbor and Northeast Harbor, ME, Morris sees its new presence in Newport as a natural extension. “Our geographic footprint is expanding,” said Morris CEO Doug Metchick, “and in order to continue our high-touch sales approach, for which we are renowned, a sales office in a prominent global sailing hub like Newport was a logical next step.” Morris has also added three sales professionals to its team. Joining Morris veterans Prent Weathers and James Allen are new hires Scott Dyer, Gregg Weatherby and Chad Thieken.
Dyer recently served as Sales Manager for the North American operations of Sealegs amphibious boats. Prior to that, he held leadership positions at Protector Boats and Hinckley Yachts. Weatherby, a U.S. Coast Guard licensed captain, has worked as National Sales Manager for True North Yachts and managed the Northeast Atlantic regional business development for Pursuit Boats and Tiara Yachts.
Thieken, an MCA Class IV/3000 GT Captain with a degree in Maritime Business, has helmed some of the world’s finest sailing superyachts, including the J-Class Hanuman, Ethereal, Hyperion, Athena and Marie. Having recently completed an apprenticeship with Dykstra Naval Architects in Amsterdam, he continues his design studies and was a Semi-Finalist for ShowBoats International’s Young Designer of the Year in 2011.
Founded in 1972, Morris Yachts is a family-owned company building semi-custom and custom sailing yachts from 29 to 80 feet. For more information, visit morrisyachts.com.