New GM for Rayglass

In a move that reflects Rayglass Boats’ continuing growth, both in New Zealand and overseas, sales and marketing manager Dave Larsen has been appointed as the company’s General Manager.

Rayglass CEO Tony Hembrow says the company is now of a size that warrants a General Manager.

“We now have several different divisions, all doing extremely well and we need someone to coordinate that growth and ensure we maximise all the opportunities that arise.”

The company now manufactures the Rayglass Legend range of trailer boats, the Rayglass 4000 Legend launch, the Rayglass Protector range of Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) and the just released Rayglass Pro-Jet, a unique vessel that features an 6-metre Protector built around a powerful PWC (personal watercraft).

Rayglass Boats also has a network of dealers throughout New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti and the United States and enjoys steadily increasing exports to a number of markets, primarily in the United States, Europe and the Pacific Islands.

Announcing the appointment Tony Hembrow says Dave Larsen was the obvious choice as he has recently completed studying Business Administration at Auckland University.

“He has also worked in every department of the business; his knowledge and experience is hard to beat.

“Dave has done a spectacular job, motivating his team to exceed their sales targets and keeping the company profitable through a tough economic climate.

“Dave’s management skills have also been recognised by the wider community.

“Late last year, after a rigorous nationwide selection contest, Dave was recognised alongside New Zealand’s best leaders as the New Zealand Eagle Technology Young Executive of the Year, the first time anyone from the marine industry has won this award.

“This is one of the country’s most prestigious management awards and reflects Dave’s management ability and commitment.

Dave Larsen says he looks forward to the challenge of growing the company and developing new markets.

“Rayglass is a company that is renowned for the absolute quality of its boats and for its ability to continually innovate.

“The Legend range is generally regarded as New Zealand’s best trailer power boats and their resale reflects that.

“The Protector range is dominant in the world commercial work boat market, at the America’s Cup (Rayglass had over 100 Protectors on the water during the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia), with international government agencies and as superyacht tenders.”

Dave Larsen will be based at Rayglass Boats’ headquarters in Mt Wellington and report directly to CEO Tony Hembrow.