Palmer Johnson names new president
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Mike Kelsey Jr. has been named President of Palmer Johnson Yachts just six months after being named Vice President of Sales, according to a press release issued today. Kelsey will oversee all PJ divisions including the new build/refit facility located in Savannah, Ga., and along with the brokerage/charter offices in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“In addition to his ties to the PJ legacy, I am confident that Mike will bring the leadership and guidance needed to ensure PJ’s overall success,” said PJ owner, Timur Mohamed.
Kelsey’s grandfather Patrick Haggerty, founder of Texas Instruments, purchased Palmer Johnson in 1961. Kelsey’s father, the late Mike Kelsey, Sr., began working for his father-in-law in 1962 as Service and Repair Manager and moved up the ranks before eventually becoming owner.
Mike Kelsey, Jr. grew up around yachts, spending many days as a child helping in the stockroom or asking questions in the design department. His industry experience includes working in the construction of smaller sailboats and larger motoryachts, yacht brokerage and new construction sales.
Some of his new construction yacht sales include the first MCA yacht to be produced in America, the 131’ Palmer Johnson motoryacht, Inevitable and PJ’s first full displacement tri-deck, the 127’ Our Way, which began the company’s run of full displacement motoryachts beginning in 1996. Other new build sales include the motoryachts La Baroness (150’ PJ), Anson Bell (156’ PJ), Alexis (121’ PJ), My Weigh (121’ PJ) and Time (126’ PJ).
“I’m here because I believe in Palmer Johnson and I believe in Tim Mohamed,” said Kelsey. “He’s a man of true forward vision, something both my father and grandfather exemplified regarding the future and overall success of Palmer Johnson.”
Coming off the heels of what it calls “a very successful debut” of the 120’ sport yacht, Cover Drive, at the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show, the company is busy promoting the new sport yacht series. Other yachts in production at the Savannah facility include two 123’ raised pilothouse composite motoryachts, a second 120’ aluminum sport yacht, a 96’ custom Palmer Johnson and plans are now being finalized for an 80’ sport yacht – the latest in the PJ sport yacht series.
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