YPI CREW STAFF

“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 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..

“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.

“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

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.

“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

“I enjoy the fast-paced nature of my work and offering the best possible service to my clients, while finding my candidates their dream jobs.”

Elaine came to YPI CREW by way of her travel addiction and a love of the Côte d’Azur. Her wanderlust was first sparked while spending a year abroad after finishing a European Studies degree in her native Ireland. After six years of working for travel company Trailfinders, Elaine admitted defeat against the rain and wind of Dublin and headed south for the sunnier climes of the French Riviera.

Having happened upon the exciting, challenging world of yachting, she settled into a specialisation of recruitment, and in late 2014 she joined YPI CREW to look after interior department roles. Sporty and foodie in equal parts, when she’s not running or on her road bike, Elaine can be found exploring the growing restaurant scene in Nice.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in European Studies

“YPI CREW is a professional, caring and fun environment to work in. It has all the aspects of a hard working team that I’m used to when great yacht crew come together.”

Marice has dedicated her career to yachting, having spent 16 years at sea, building up to a chief stewardess role on private and charter yachts ranging from 60m to 115m. She relished the challenge of working on a 115m new construction project as interior consultant for two years, and then settled ashore in yachting hub Antibes, continuing her work in the industry at YPI CREW.

As YPI CREW’s recruitment assistant, Marice is now focused on using her skills and experience to help and encourage the new generations of yacht crew to forge their own career paths. She is a valued member of the team whose tremendous understanding of yachting helps YPI CREW to provide professional guidance to superyacht crew of all levels. A consummate hostess from her days as a stewardess, she enjoys cooking, good food and entertaining friends at home.

“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

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.

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.