on 28 Oct 2020
New President Aine Denari, an auto industry executive, will enjoying rebounding sales, especially in Asia Pacific
On October 22, Brunswick Corporation announced the appointment of Aine Denari as president of the Brunswick Boat Group. Denari succeeds Huw Bower, who left Brunswick in September.
New Brunswick President Aine Denari
Brunswick is one of the world’s biggest leisure marine companies. Its portfolio of brands includes Sea Ray, Boston Whaler and Bayliner, as well as Mercury Marine outboard engines.
“Aine is a proven leader with two decades of experience defining and implementing industry-leading strategies, driving change, and designing and leading world-class teams,” said Dave Foulkes, Brunswick Corporation CEO. He said consumer expectations in boating were being set by “other leading-edge mobility experiences”, and that Denari’s automotive experience would be critical.
In a statement, Denari said she would focus on “introducing even greater levels of product innovation and customer focus. Denari spent 20 years in the automotive industry and is trained both in mechanical engineering and management.
The appointment comes as Brunswick is enjoying a rebound in sales in the third quarter, after a slump in all major markets due to Covid-19, apart from the Asia-Pacific. In its second quarter financial results announcement in 2020, Brunswick Group reported a 15.2% drop in overall net sales. Yet, in its third quarter results for boat sales, Brunswick reported an 18.3% rise from the third quarter 2019, and overall net sales were up 26.3%.
The company said outboard engine sales into Asia-Pacific was a bright spot in 2020
The US, Brunswick’s biggest overall market, accounted for 67% of all sales but saw a 19% decline in the second quarter. The Asia-Pacific region accounted for just 10% of all sales, yet saw a 49% rise in the second quarter. It was the only region to register a sales increase. In the third quarter, revenue from the Asia-Pacific region climbed 51%, making it the fastest growing region for the company.