Tom Chant Appointed as SMI Director of Business Development

Tom Chant was welcomed by The Society of Maritime Industries’ chief executive John Murray, as the new director of Business Development and secretary to the AMSI & BMEA Councils. Tom has a long association with the marine industry having been an active sailor and student of boatbuilding in Southampton, UK. His career has encompassed a wide range of market sectors and he has gathered experience of business development, marketing and distribution in an international business environment.

A nine year period at the trade body for the leisure, superyacht and workboat sector was committed to developing the members’ export business. This included running UK pavilions at overseas shows, management of inward and outward missions including Meet-the- Buyer events, plus the creation of market reports and representation on government committees. Recent career experience has been within the marine interiors sector managing multiple distributors and OEMs from New Zealand, Australia, Turkey, Greece, UAE and South Africa.

John Murray said that an important aspect of Tom’s role will be to support two of SMI’s six Councils, which provide policy guidance in our work with government and regulators.