Australia: Austal Expands Its Business in Key Markets

Austal has taken further steps in implementing its strategy to regionalise its operations to better serve and grow its international client base. Following the acquisition of its Philippines shipyard last year, the company has now broadened its sales and support organisations in the key Europe, Asia-Pacific and Middle East markets.

Austal Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bellamy said the strategy would provide better service and results for customers.

“Austal is a highly customer focussed and by developing our presence in key regions, we are able to spend more time with them,” he said “That increased level of client contact will enable us to understand their requirements even better than we have in the past.

“Ultimately that means we can deliver better results to them, whether that be in the ships we build, the systems we integrate or the in-service support we provide.”

 Expanded European presence

Simon Smith, who has been representing Austal for nearly 13 years, has been appointed to the role of Regional Manager for Europe. He and his team are based in a new office in the United Kingdom, which was formally opened by Andrew Bellamy today.

“Austal has had a great success in Europe over the years, particularly in the ferry market, and Simon has been central to those achievements,” Mr Bellamy said.

“Now there are new opportunities including sales and support of boats for the growing offshore wind farm market. That’s an area in which we are now highly competitive through the combination of superior technology and the manufacturing capability provided by the Philippines shipyard.

Mr Bellamy said the company’s European presence had also been expanded with the introduction of a specialist in defence business development.

Guy Johnston has been appointed Regional Sales Manager – Defence for Europe. Guy brings extensive experience from the defence and IT industries, including 18 years within the BAE Systems organisation where he held a number of senior sales and marketing positions.

“We are looking to expand sales to the European naval and paramilitary market,” Mr Bellamy commented. “We feel that is definitely achievable given our success in breaking into the US defence industry and Guy brings the right skills and experience to help us realise that aim.”

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Naval Today Staff, April 24, 2012; Image: Austal