John Anderson: at the helm of Riviera
He has been with the company for 18 months and now, takes over from Wes Moxey as CEO. Meet the man behind the title.
'As well as a background in marine, John Anderson has a unique perspective from the truck rental and customer service industries.'
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The recently appointed CEO of Riviera, John Anderson, has stepped into big shoes, taking over from Wes Moxey, industry stalwart and associated with Riviera for more than 24 years.
But Anderson himself has a pedigree to be proud of and is supremely equipped to confront the challenges facing the entire industry, played out larger than life at Australia's largest boat builder, and lead the company into a new era.
Here, he takes some time out from an incredibly hectic schedule for a Q&A with MarineBusinessNews.com
. What were your impressions of Riviera from the perspective of your role as President of Four Winns in the US?
Four Winns distributed Riviera Excaliburs in the US so I had first hand knowledge of the high quality of its people and product.
. What is the reputation of the Australian marine industry - boat builders in particular - in the US?
Riviera has an excellent reputation in the US because they have made a major commitment to that market. Other than Riviera there is not a great deal of knowledge about the boat building done in Australia and there is more done here than most people realise.
Due to the vast number of manufacturers in the US most boat builders are focussed on US competition. They are probably not as attentive as they should be to brands built outside the US but are becoming more aware as they face more competition.
. What were the lifestyle and professional challenges you anticipated moving to Australia?
The Gold Coast lifestyle is almost identical to that in Florida. The people here are friendly and treat us as individuals, they don't care who you are or where you come from. The most significant professional challenge was being American and integrating into the Australian lifestyle.
I had to learn the cultural differences in the manufacturing environment between the US and Australia. In Australia we have apprentices, tradespeople and a good deal of our boat building is contractor based which are not present in boatbuilding in the US.
The issues of boat building you come across in manufacturing fibreglass boats are very much the same no matter where you are. Work is done pretty much all by people. Dealing with suppliers and the distribution network is very much the same.
. As CEO, what style of leadership do you bring to the company?
I am very team oriented and believe in surrounding myself with the best people possible. As a team we agree on the direction of the company, put a business plan in place and let these people do their job.
. What are your main strengths and capabilities from your years in the marine industry?
After 25 years understanding what makes the industry work from the very beginning I know the focus has to be on product to make sure we are delivering what the market demands. I am also very market focussed on understanding the distribution network capabilities to deliver the boat buyers' expectations.
. Prior to Four Winns, where were you working? Have you worked beyond the marine realm?
1996-1997 President, Shamrock Marine, Division KCS International, Florida, USA
1992-1996 Director of Seadoo Jet Boats, Bombardier, Melbourne, Florida, USA
1985-1992 VP Sales/Senior VP Marketing, Sea Ray Boats, Tennessee, USA
1975-1985 Various Management positions at Ryder Truck Rental and Leasing, USA and Canada
. What attributes do you inject into your current role that add to the company?
My 10-11 years in truck rental and leasing gave me excellent business education and training and this has all come into play.
Also 11 years in the service industry have given me 35 years of customer service and because it is tied to the economy one of the attributes is being very focussed on the marketplace and understanding trends.
. Your first week in the job has seen 121 employees laid off - what is the current state of operations at Riviera?
The global economic situation not only affects the marine industry but all industries and we have to structure our company to deal with the marketplace we have today. We also have to prepare for future growth.
. What are the launches and innovations we can look forward to in the next half of the year?
All I can talk about right now is the 58SY which we will be launching soon. I think this model will be one of the most exciting boats Riviera has launched in its history.
. How is R Marine performing?
As I mentioned earlier, distribution is one of the things I focus on. I am very pleased with the performance of R Marine and really believe that a good deal of our success at the Sanctuary Cove and Sydney International Boat Shows and in the market is a direct result of R Marine's focus and dedication to the various brands they represent.
. Are there any new international markets you are pursuing?
Like most other companies we are pursuing the emerging markets of eastern Europe, Middle East and Asia.
. In your own terms, how would you sum up the Riviera brand in 4 words?
World class, trusted, bluewater.
. Other than boating, what are your pastimes and interests?
My pastimes and interests are my family and boating.
. What appeals to you most about Australia? Is there anything or anywhere you must see while here?
The people are what appeals to me most about Australia. There are many things on our list but there is no urgency as we plan on being here for a long time. My wife and I plan to visit many destinations including Melbourne, Tasmania and Cairns as well as New Zealand.
by Jeni Bone 
sunrise beach, QLD
