Having worked for high profile boat building companies for nearly twenty years, Karen has a wealth of experience in the yachting industry. Karen joined Spirit Yachts as office manager and PA to the directors in 2015 following previous roles at Oyster Yachts and Fairline.

Spirit Yachts managing director Nigel Stuart commented, “Karen is an invaluable asset to the Spirit team and her promotion is well-deserved. Over the last two years, Spirit has had its highest turnover ever, delivering more cubic feet of yachts per year in the company’s 26 year history.”

As well as management of all aspects of the Spirit office, Karen is responsible for customer liaison, hospitality and ensuring Spirit Yachts runs as efficiently as possible. A highly organised multi-tasker, Karen also oversees the logistics of yacht launches and deliveries.

Spirit founder and chief designer Sean McMillan added, “Spirit Yachts’ success is primarily down to the team we have in place and Karen is an integral part of the business. I am delighted to welcome her to the board of directors.”

Karen said, “I am thrilled to be joining the directors at such an exciting time for the business. Spirit Yachts has clear growth plans and a variety of innovative projects in build and in the design phase. The company is going from strength to strength and I am looking forward to working alongside the directors to achieve our goals.”

This autumn, Spirit Yachts is due to launch its largest ever sailing yacht, the 34m Spirit 111, and its flagship power yacht, the 21.7m Spirit P70. The company has a healthy order book with ongoing construction of a Spirit DH65 (deckhouse), a Spirit 44E (electric) sailing yacht and a Spirit P40 superyacht tender. In the coming months, Spirit Yachts will start building a P50 power yacht and a DH72 sailing yacht.

Spirit currently employs a team of 61, the highest number of staff in the company’s history.