Brunswick forms new organization in Europe

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Boat and engine building giant Brunswick Corp. (NYSE: BC) has formed an umbrella organization called the Brunswick European Group to implement a growth strategy for its marine operations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and to leverage shared services opportunities for all of Brunswick’s operations in those regions, according to a company press release this morning.

Victoria J. Reich, president – Brunswick European Group, will head the new organization, based in Brussels, Belgium, the company said.

Brunswick Chairman and CEO George W. Buckley said the new organizational structure was designed with two primary objectives in mind.

“First is to take a more comprehensive and cohesive approach to growing our marine presence in these important markets,” Buckley said. “To date, our boat and engine businesses have maintained separate international organizations, but now they will move forward with a more unified strategy aimed at giving boaters the right product, at the right price through the right distribution channels.

“Our second objective is to more efficiently manage and share services such as finance, human resources, information technology, legal and supply chain among our marine, fitness and bowling operations in the region.”

Brunswick Marine Council is formed

Reich will continue to report to Buckley, who will also serve as chairman of a newly formed Brunswick Marine Council, which will have responsibility for coordinating Brunswick’s global marine strategy, according to the release.

Serving on the council with Buckley and Reich are T.J. Chung, president – Brunswick New Technologies; Patrick C. Mackey, president – Mercury Marine Group; Dustan E. McCoy, president – Brunswick Boat Group; Peter G. Leemputte, senior vice president and chief financial officer; and B. Russell Lockridge, vice president and chief human resources officer, Brunswick said.

“The Brunswick European Group will enable us to more successfully leverage Brunswick’s overall strengths in marine technologies and products as well as our leadership in boat and engine integration, distribution and service,” Buckley said. “Vicki will be responsible for our boat, engine, and parts and accessories brands that are manufactured in these regions as well as responsibility for all aspects of the distribution of marine products imported into these regions.”

Buckley said Reich will also “spearhead” efforts to improve productivity through shared services among all Brunswick operations in the area, as well as pursue merger and acquisition opportunities in the marine marketplace.

Reporting to Reich will be Jacques A. Bronchart, general manager – Marine Power Europe, who will also serve in an advisory role for the group’s business development initiatives; the Sealine International organization; Marcel Rijnbeek, managing director – European operations for Sea Ray International; Francois Sebire, managing director – European office for US Marine; and Tony Caviglia, director of business development, according to the company.

In addition, Francis Vanbergen has been named chief financial officer for the Brunswick European Group. Vanbergen had been director – finance, administration and ICT for Marine Power Europe as well as director – Brunswick European Treasury Center, Brunswick said.

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