Mark Averhoff takes over Delphia brand leadership
Delphia has appointed Mark Averhoff as Brand Director as the Groupe Beneteau company moves into its next development phase. He succeeds Martin Schemkes and will oversee a strategy that keeps the brand’s inland-cruising identity while expanding its relevance for coastal use.
The appointment comes as Delphia adds higher-power configurations to parts of its range. The company says the objective is to give owners greater capability in stronger currents and more demanding coastal conditions without abandoning the comfort and efficiency that define the existing displacement models.
Delphia 11 and 12 anchor the next phase
The Delphia 11 and Delphia 12 are central to the strategy, with layouts aimed at extended stays onboard and all-season cruising. At the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival, Delphia showed an 11 FlyLounge powered by a 250hp Yanmar engine as an example of the broader operating envelope being developed.
The larger engine option is designed to provide additional reserve power while preserving the low-speed efficiency and relaxed handling associated with the platform. Delphia is presenting that change as an evolution of the range rather than a shift toward high-speed planing boats.
Brand development broadens Groupe Beneteau’s cruising offer
Within Groupe Beneteau, Delphia occupies a distinctive position around slower, comfort-focused cruising. Extending the range toward more coastal capability can widen the potential customer base without directly duplicating the group’s other motor-yacht brands.
Averhoff’s task will be to translate that positioning into product development, dealer communication and owner confidence. The success of the strategy will depend on whether the brand can broaden its cruising geography while retaining the simplicity and efficiency that existing Delphia customers expect.