Sunseeker, Scott Millar new interim CEO after Frabetti’s exit

We anticipated the top management change within the famous British shipyard Sunseeker. Here now is confirmation: Scott Millar, senior managing director of Teneo Financial Advisory, has taken over as interim CEO of Sunseeker International effective Dec. 8, 2025, following the immediate exit of Andrea Frabetti. The transition follows a restructuring and refinancing plan with capital injections from Cheyne Capital and Cross Ocean Partners, aimed at strengthening the shipyard’s financial position.

From Frabetti to Millar: continuity for Sunseeker

Andrea Frabetti joined Sunseeker in January 2019 as chief technical officer and then took over as CEO back in May of the same year, succeeding Christian Marti. In those six intense years, Frabetti has led one of the biggest product expansion phases in the brand’s recent history, doubling the range to more than 20 models between 2019 and 2021.

Innovative lines such as the Ocean series-with models like the Ocean 90 and Ocean 100-which combine generous open-air spaces and sporty performance, perfect for owners seeking versatility in the Mediterranean or ocean cruising, were born under his direction, while the Predators and Manhattans saw evolutions that solidified their role as best-sellers in the sport-luxury segment.

All this in an uneasy context marked by tariffs, market slowdown, and cuts of up to 10 percent in the workforce in 2025. In the meantime, Frabetti also oversaw the recent change of ownership, finalized in November 2024 with the entry of Lionheart Capital (American) and Orienta Capital Partners (Italian), which took over the majority stake from China’s Dalian Wanda group, laying the groundwork for new investment in superyachts.

Who is the new interim CEO

Scott Millar brings nearly 30 years of experience in corporate restructuring, transformation, and crisis management for luxury brands, including automotive and marine sectors. As senior managing director and head of corporate restructuring advisory at Teneo Financial – a global firm specializing in insolvency, M&A and business transformation – he managed large-scale transactions, such as refinancings for retailers with £4 billion in turnovers and debt restructurings of more than £1 billion in construction companies.

His appointment as interim CEO is directly linked to Teneo’s role as receiver of Sunseeker Investments, the shipyard’s indirect holding company, charged with overseeing this phase of corporate and financial reorganization to ensure operational continuity and continuation of the production strategy.

A brief history of Sunseeker

Founded in 1969 by brothers Robert and John Braithwaite as Poole Power Boats in Poole, Dorset, the yard debuted the Sovereign 17 in 1971 and changed its name to Sunseeker International in 1985. A British leader in luxury motor yachts from 38 to 161 feet, it went under China’s Wanda Group in 2013 and then to Lionheart Capital (U.S.) and Orienta Capital Partners (Italy) in November 2024. Despite recent challenges such as tariffs and declining global demand, with layoffs of 10 percent of the workforce by 2025, Sunseeker continues to invest in new products and superyachts.

The history of Sunseeker and its iconic models

Founded in 1969 in Poole, Dorset, as Poole Power Boats by brothers Robert and John Braithwaite, the yard started with affordable pleasure boats and debuted in 1971 with the Sovereign 17, a small runabout that embodied the British spirit of performance and reliability.

In 1985 came the rebranding to Sunseeker International, marking the rise to luxury motor yachts, from 38 to 161 feet, with a DNA of aggressive planing hulls, spacious flybridges, and bespoke finishes. Among the iconic models is the Manhattan 52, an absolute best-seller with more than 100 units launched: its garage stern for dinghy and toys, versatile tri-deck layout, and ability to easily exceed 30 knots have made it a favorite of European owners for family cruises or charters in the Mediterranean, combining comfort with a responsive ride that has made it a “workhorse” of the brand.

Not to be outdone are the Predator series, such as the Predator 108, the epitome of pure sportiness: sharp lines, open cockpits, and speeds in excess of 35 knots thanks to four large engines, have turned these yachts into icons of glamorous Rivieras, from the Bay of Biscay to the Emerald Coast, with an unforgettable cameo in Casino Royale establishing their cult status in the yachting world.

Finally, 131 Yacht represents the pinnacle of Sunseeker’s tri-deck superyachts: 40 meters of aluminum and composites, with a modular beach club, jacuzzi on the fly and full-beam owner’s suite, it is the symbol of the shipyard’s move toward ultra-luxury, capable of accommodating up to 10 guests in a design that balances privacy and shared spaces.

Despite recent turbulence-tariffs, falling demand, and a more selective market-the new shareholders confirm confidence in Sunseeker’s potential, with focus on product innovation and superyacht strategy from the historic Poole site.