Superyacht Recruitment

“Our clients don’t call us for crew CVs, they call us for a solution.”

Laurence has been at the helm of YPI CREW since 2002, steering a course through the ever-changing and increasingly challenging environment of human resources in yachting. Building a team of highly talented specialist recruiters for over a decade, Laurence’s vision and drive have led to YPI CREW becoming the reference when it comes to crew placement on large yachts, worldwide.

Laurence started out her career in recruitment two decades ago, in 1993. She has worked for some of the sector’s most demanding employers, including Elite Medical Services, based in London’s Belgravia.

When she is not working with her team to place crew with some of the most discerning yacht owners, Laurence enjoys spending time with her Bassett hounds and listening to rock music – and she can tell you about some of the nicest high-altitude lakes to hike in the Mercantour.

“It is very rewarding to see the progression in a candidate’s career over the years, from starting out in an entry-level position to running a large department. I love the diversity and fast pace of work at YPI CREW; there’s never a dull moment!”

One of our longest-standing members of the team, Helen has been with YPI CREW since Laurence first opened the agency in 2002. British-born Helen – who is half-French, half-Greek – started her career in London but soon moved to France, initially basing herself in Paris, working in the perfume industry before heading to the French Riviera.

Developing lasting relationships with candidates and clients is one of the most rewarding parts of the job for Helen. She has assisted countless interior crew to navigate their career paths, many of whom she found their first positions, such as entry-level chefs who now run galleys of 100m+ superyachts or junior stewardesses who are now pursers overseeing dozens of crew.

Away from work, Helen loves cinema, reading, and going to concerts when she is not cheering on her children at tennis and football matches.

What do you find most rewarding about being a yacht crew agent?

“My favourite part of recruitment is the relationship I get to develop with candidates. I love assisting chefs in securing their first yachting job. I have known many of the chefs since they started in the industry and it’s wonderful to watch their career develop to the point where they are now the client and I am helping them look for crew.  The diversity and fast pace of the job means there is never a dull moment.”

“Matching the right candidates to a team is critical to the smooth operations of a superyacht. I am passionate about working with the best engineers in the business to find the perfect fit for each client and candidate.”

Jacqui joined us at YPI CREW in 2006, leaving the UK and a corporate background in banking for life on the Riviera as a recruitment specialist for superyacht engineers. She is reputably one of the leading experts in her field and highly regarded throughout the industry as having a portfolio of engineers that is second to none.

Jacqui has founded strong relationships with key clients and high profile yachts spanning the globe and also candidates from all manner of maritime sectors including commercial, merchant and naval fleets, introducing the right calibre of candidates to the industry. Jacqui works hard to find candidates that not only have the right professional fit, but also the right personal fit, for every client.

In her spare time, aside from shoe shopping, Jacqui is still mastering the art of balancing on two planks and staying upright whilst schussing down the snow covered pistes in winter.

What do you find most rewarding about being a yacht crew agent?

“The pace, the challenge, the building of long-standing relationships. It’s the most rewarding feeling when you find the perfect job for a candidate, especially the newbies. The best accolade I’ve ever received is ‘you’ve made my dreams come true’.”

“I thrive working in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same. I am always aiming for the perfect fit for each candidate and yacht.”

Ulrica has been with YPI CREW since 2009, and she works tirelessly to make the critical perfect match between captains and owners of superyachts, as well as place candidates in deck department roles. She has a fantastic network of contacts as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of superyachts, and appreciates the importance of the human touch in superyacht recruitment.

Swedish-born Ulrica started her career in London after university, working in a senior finance and support role for one of Britain’s largest commercial property companies for six years. In total she spent over 10 years in London, where she also worked in the legal and PR sectors. She continued her professional development in property at an estate agency in France before joining YPI CREW.

When not in the office working to place the industry’s best captains and deck crew in exciting roles, Ulrica enjoys spending time in the diverse landscapes of the Southern Europe and Scandinavia with friends and family.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Accounting and Business Administration
• Higher education qualification in Business English, English Grammar and European Tax Law

What do you find most rewarding about being a superyacht recruiter?

“After years in the recruitment industry, I enjoy the opportunity to sink my teeth into challenging, highly specific positions! Finding the perfect fit for client and candidate, as well as sometimes challenging the job spec and sending the candidate I believe is right for the role, rather than the advert.“

Born and raised in the superyachting hub of Antibes, Marjorie was exposed to the appeal of yachting from a young age.

It was therefore a natural progression for her to choose a career on and around the water, and she first spent time as a crewmember on high profile superyachts before moving back ashore into a project manager role for a satellite systems company.

In this position, Marjorie gained a solid understanding of communications, networking and advanced IT solutions for superyachts, which perfectly set her up for a position in engineer recruitment. Marjorie joined YPI CREW in 2010 and she works to find the perfect fit between yachts and candidates for junior and second engineer positions.

What do you find most rewarding about being a superyacht recruiter?

“Following and assisting a newly qualified candidate throughout their career progression. The evolution is a reward itself and, when the candidate becomes a client, that’s even better!”

“At YPI CREW there is a friendly and positive professional atmosphere; I love the challenges of my role.”

Originally from Estonia, Anna came to YPI CREW by way of a degree in Sociology and an early career in the steel industry, where she was an assistant at ArcelorMittal.
Anna’s adventurous side led her to take the bold step of packing up her life and heading south with her young family in 2013. Anna settled in Antibes, joined YPI CREW and is now part of the dynamic engineering department working with Jacqui and Marjorie.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Project Management

“Working at YPI CREW is both challenging and great fun; finding Captains the right candidates, and, vice versa, candidates their dream yacht jobs is very rewarding.”

Fiona joined YPI CREW in 2006 after having worked for a yachting supply company for two years and a luxury hotel in Cannes. Having grown up in the UK, Germany and France Fiona enjoys working in an international environment and meeting people from all over the world. She has been placing deckhands and bosuns for nearly a decade and enjoys helping them progress from deckies to fully-fledged officers.

Aside from work, Fiona is an avid gym goer and enjoys spending time with her young family.

Education:

Bachelor in Business Administration

Masters in Strategic Tourism Management

What do you find most rewarding about being a yacht crew agent?

“I love “kick-starting” someone’s career and being there with them from the beginning.”

I enjoy the uniqueness of yacht crew recruitment with its ever-changing parameters and constant movement that requires total flexibility and calmness under pressure.

Having grown up in South Africa and completed my University studies in France, I am fully bi-lingual and bi-cultural. I consider myself as an outgoing and optimistic person who strives to find the best in each candidate as well as developing opportunities to make the perfect onboard match. I have been involved in human resources since 1995 and in yacht crew placement since 1998.

Outside the office I like to escape to nearby Liguria, the outdoors, sample good food and wine and experience the arts in general.

I left behind the Legal world in London and came to the Riviera 15 years ago with my young son to join the rest of my family who are dotted around the Cote d’Azur. Four members of my family have a career in yachting, so why not me? I took my first role as a stewardess back in 2002 and worked on various sized yachts throughout the years, finally settling back on land.

Musically minded and an ex-trained dancer, you will find me at any concert or dance event in my spare time but most of all spending quality time with my family.

What do you find most rewarding about being a superyacht recruiter?

“I enjoy recruitment because it’s exciting and rewarding to take someone’s dream and turn it into a reality.”

Louise’s background is Finance and Human Resources but much as she loves numbers and spread sheets she is a people’s person. It was whilst working for a training college offering Deck/Engineering courses and a trip to the Antigua yacht show that the industry had her hooked.  The people that yachting attracts is what she likes best, people who like adventure and to step out of their comfort zone, people who are mad enough to pack a bag and travel across the world to get a job in yachting.  A bit like Louise who after securing work down here was literally on the next plane from Liverpool to Nice.

Recruiting Stewardesses is Louise’s perfect job. She gets to make a difference and loves helping someone land their dream role.  Dealing with juniors she gets to play an important part in the beginning of someone’s career and their journey in life. When the candidate gets the phone call and they are so genuinely excited it’s the highlight of her day.

Louise loves to try the latest sport, in the past few years alone she has done Ballet Dancing, Olympic Weight Lifting, Tae Kwon Do, Bollywood Dancing, Circuit Training, Netball, the list goes on, she is a Jack of all trades, a Louise of all sports. Ironically though, she still cannot swim, another reason why recruiting stewardesses is the perfect job for her, she combines a love for the industry with her feet firmly on land.

What do you find most rewarding about being a yacht crew agent?

“My favourite thing about superyacht recruitment is the role I play in helping my juniors land the perfect job, taking the first step in their career and embarking on the adventure they have always dreamed of.”

Annabelle has always had a love for the sea. She spent her childhood in Brittany and Corsica and developed an early love for travelling.  She began her career as a Tourism Project Assistant for an upmarket travel website based in Monaco and in 2011, after a year out to go around the world, she decided to return to the South of France and put her skills to use as a yacht stewardess. Annabelle found the industry to be a perfect match, allowing her to combine her passion for travel and the ocean with her hospitality skills.  After six years on board a variety of boats Annabelle said goodbye to life as a stewardess to welcome her new born baby girl into the world.

When she finds a moment to herself you will find Annabelle running off the beaten track in the hills of Nice, the perfect way to clear her mind!

Education

Bachelor Degree in Law and Economy of Tourism

Anita is originally from Estonia, speaks fluent English and after attaining a University degree in Economics and Business Management, she moved into project management in the printing sector. Anita is the avid traveller and fell in love with the South of France when she first came here in 2009. Since then, she has spent the summer months every year in Antibes and discovered the Super Yacht industry 5 years ago. She joined the YPI Crew team in May 2019 as the Administrator Assistant and she has been a fantastic support to the team.

In her free time, you will find Anita researching interesting places looking for the next adventure.

Born and raised in Cannes, it was a natural career choice for Celine to join the Super Yacht industry. Having worked on both motor and sail yachts and being a passionate sailor, she felt privileged to be part of the legend of a true classic, SY Shamrock V.

After a career at sea, it was time for family life and Celine knew that YPI CREW would be the ideal company to keep her heart at sea and to share her extensive knowledge and give advice to new crew. She is the perfect fit to the team with her sense of humour, positive attitude and welcoming smile to all our clients and candidates!

When not in the office, you will find Celine enjoying family time at sea or in the mountains.