When asked about his responsibilities as CEO of both Sanlorenzo Asia Pacific and Simpson Marine, Daniele Lucà explains: “Following Sanlorenzo’s acquisition of a majority stake in Simpson Marine, my role now encompasses full regional responsibility for the Group’s activities in Asia Pacific, overseeing both the development of the Group’s yacht brands and the continued evolution of the Simpson Marine business in this new phase.”
From a corporate standpoint, Simpson Marine Limited is the legal entity controlling all Group companies operating in the region. From a business and communication perspective, the Group’s activities in Asia Pacific are conducted under the umbrella of Sanlorenzo Asia Pacific, which serves as the main regional platform and brand architecture for the yacht business across APAC markets, reflecting the structure adopted in the Americas with Sanlorenzo of the Americas and in the Mediterranean with Sanlorenzo Med.
Within this framework, Sanlorenzo Asia Pacific brings together the Group’s yacht brands Sanlorenzo, Bluegame and Nautor Swan alongside the Simpson Marine brand, which continues to operate as a key commercial and services platform, representing Axopar and delivering brokerage, charter, after-sales, yacht management and yacht care services across all brands.
Lucà reports directly to Massimo Perotti, Executive Chairman of Sanlorenzo, having formerly served as Sales Director of Sanlorenzo’s Yacht Business Unit from 2023, a role in which he led commercial operations in the EMEA, APAC, NAFTA and LATAM markets, and oversaw development of the sales and distribution network.
What led you to accept the role of CEO of Sanlorenzo Asia Pacific and Simpson Marine?
Three reasons guided my decision. Firstly, I’m motivated by missions that require depth, courage and long-term vision. This role is about guiding the integration of a company (Simpson Marine) with more than 40 years of history and more than 100 professionals across 10 countries and cultures, accompanying them into a new chapter within a global, publicly-listed organisation (Sanlorenzo). Inspiring a diverse team through such a transformation is a meaningful challenge for a leader.
The second reason was the region’s potential. APAC is one of the most compelling luxury markets in the world. The people at Simpson Marine possess extraordinary market knowledge. When combined with Sanlorenzo’s product excellence and brand philosophy, the growth opportunity is remarkable. One of our missions is to absorb and translate the deep market intelligence of APAC into the broader Sanlorenzo strategy, contributing to the evolution of our Group into a truly global organisation.
The last factor was personal. Moving to Hong Kong with my family meant stepping outside our comfort zone, embracing uncertainty and expanding our horizon of experiences.
How well did you know the Asia-Pacific region before moving to Hong Kong?
When I was Sales Director of Sanlorenzo’s Yacht Division, Asia Pacific was already part of my global scope. However, it’s not a region to truly understand from afar. Its constellation of cultures, expectations and dynamics requires immersion.
With your Executive MBA and banking, automotive and energy background, what strengths do you bring to this role?
My EMBA and my career outside the yachting industry have shaped skills I consider valuable for this early chapter of Sanlorenzo Asia Pacific. My leadership philosophy results from experiences across industries, continents and cultures.
Early in my career, investment banking in New York taught me discipline, analytical precision and performance under pressure. Years in the automotive sector at FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) and Volkswagen were an exceptional managerial school, exposing me to complexity, scale, global product development, transformation processes and multicultural leadership.
Working in the energy transition sector strengthened my strategic sensitivity toward sustainability, innovation and long-term value creation. In these roles, I led global business development initiatives, managed M&As, joint ventures and strategic partnerships, and navigated organisational ecosystems.
The ability to integrate perspectives, build trust and harmonise cultures is most relevant as Simpson Marine evolves within the Sanlorenzo Group and as we strengthen our presence in APAC. My EMBA adds another dimension. Studying and working alongside professionals from 27 countries taught me humility, adaptability and resilience.
At Sanlorenzo, working directly with Mr Perotti has exposed me to a unique blend of entrepreneurial instinct, creative vision and long-term perspective. For the first time, I could bring my international experience int
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