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David Hensel
VesselVanguard, the popular web-based subscription service that simplifies boat ownership, announced today the appointment of David Hensel as Chief Marketing Officer. Hensel comes to VesselVanguard from Grand Banks Yachts, where he served for nearly a decade as Director of Brand and Marketing for the esteemed builder of iconic motoryachts. As VesselVanguard CMO, Hensel will lead its marketing and brand-building programs, as well as contribute to a wide range of corporate, product and business development activities.
“I am incredibly pleased to welcome David to the VesselVanguard team,” said Don Hyde, CEO and founder of VesselVanguard. “During his tenure at Grand Banks, David collaborated very proactively with us to grow and improve our platform in ways that benefit boatbuilders, dealers and owners alike. When it came time to address the growing needs of our business, David was a natural fit. We’re very happy to have him on board.”
Hensel brings years of marketing leadership within the boating industry to his new role at VesselVanguard, along with considerable expertise in web-based platform technologies and other entrepreneurial ventures. Prior to joining Grand Banks he co-founded and held top positions at three Seattle-based businesses, including a biotech company, a marketing services firm and an innovative solutions company for aging adults and their families.
“I’ve spent a good part of my career building inventive solutions for important and emerging market sectors, so I immediately saw the value in VesselVanguard and appreciated the power and elegance of its platform,” said Hensel. “I was happy to bring Grand Banks on board as one of the first manufacturer partners, and I’m very excited now to join VesselVanguard as the company continues to grow and expand its services.”
Hensel is perhaps best known in the boating industry for leading the Grand Banks brand through its biggest evolution in the company’s near-sixty-year history. He oversaw the successful launch of more new models than in any previous decade and greatly expanded Grand Bank’s global marketing efforts with game-changing new strategies, programs and practices.
“No other service on the market offers as comprehensive a solution for everyone in the value chain,” said Hensel. “Boaters, service yards, insurance companies, manufacturers, builders and dealers all benefit from VesselVanguard, allowing for an unparalleled ownership experience. In my experience and opinion, anything this meaningful to so many customer types is a true paradigm shift and one that cannot be ignored.”
Image courtesy VesselVanguard