A change at the top of a fast-growing boat brand
Saxdor Yachts has confirmed that chief executive Erna Rusi is leaving the Finnish boatbuilder by mutual agreement after approximately five years in the position. In a statement issued through its authorised communications agency on 16 October 2026, the company said it had begun searching for a permanent successor.
Eric Lindquist, chief growth officer at Saxdor's parent company Malibu Boats, will act as interim chief executive during that process. The announcement is a leadership transition rather than the unveiling of a new boat, but it comes at a consequential moment for a manufacturer expanding its product range and American production.
Rusi helped move Saxdor beyond its start-up phase
Saxdor appointed Rusi in October 2021, when the young brand was already attracting attention for compact, high-performance recreational boats. The company's current statement credits her tenure with an extensive increase in manufacturing capacity and the development of a wider international presence.
Since then the brand has moved beyond its original smaller models into larger open and enclosed motorboats while strengthening distribution abroad. A chief executive change after that stage of growth raises practical questions about how the next management team will balance production scale, model development and the ownership experience expected by existing customers.
An interim leader from Malibu Boats
Lindquist brings the role of chief growth officer at Malibu Boats into a temporary leadership assignment at Saxdor. The company's announcement identifies him as interim CEO but does not provide the date on which a permanent replacement will be chosen or name a shortlist of candidates.
In its statement, Saxdor's parent emphasises the intention to maintain the Finnish brand's separate identity and close relationships with dealers and owners. That is a declared objective, not a guarantee about every future commercial decision, and prospective partners will watch how the new leadership manages product, distribution and service investment.
The March 2026 ownership change provides context
Malibu Boats acquired Saxdor in March 2026, creating a new corporate relationship between an established American recreational-boat group and the fast-expanding Finnish manufacturer. The acquisition agreement is documented in the US Securities and Exchange Commission's public filings, making the parent-company role in the current appointment clear.
The two developments should nevertheless be kept separate. The October leadership announcement says the departure was by mutual agreement; it does not identify a disagreement about strategy, a downturn in sales or any personal reason for the change, and none should be inferred without evidence.
A geographically broader production footprint
Saxdor is operating manufacturing capacity in Finland and Poland and has announced the start of US production through Malibu's facilities in Fort Pierce, Florida. The first American-built 320 GTO is complete, while the company has identified the smaller 270 GTO as a future candidate for the US production programme.
That expansion presents a complex coordination task regardless of the executive in charge. A manufacturer must keep design standards, supplier quality, parts availability and customer support consistent across locations, especially when boats made for different markets share equipment and model names.
What it could mean for small-boat buyers
Most buyers considering Saxdor's smaller outboard craft will care less about the corporate job title than about the boat they receive. Dealer access, the clarity of build specifications, warranty handling, spare parts and after-sales communication can be more important over several seasons than the headline from a management appointment.
For a current owner, the sensible question is whether established support arrangements stay in place during the transition. Saxdor's official statement says its product-development and dealer-network priorities remain intact, but it does not announce a change to existing warranties or service programmes.
The model range still needs attention
Saxdor's boats range from compact recreational runabouts into substantially larger 40- and 46-foot platforms. The small-boat end is important because trailerability, outboard servicing and convenient access to dealer expertise remain key reasons owners choose these designs rather than much larger yachts.
At the upper end, the company is promoting more enclosed accommodation and new electronic features for buyers who want longer use across changing weather. These competing customer needs make a clearly differentiated model range important as the business moves between entry-size craft and more substantial luxury cruising boats.
A boat show arrives during the transition
The change comes shortly before the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, scheduled for 28 October to 1 November 2026. Saxdor is planning to present six models there, including the 270 GTO and 320 GTO, giving prospective owners and dealers a near-term opportunity to assess the current product line.
The show is also a moment for the company to explain how sales support and production plans will operate during recruitment. The presence of boats on display demonstrates the continuation of marketing activity, but by itself says little about the timing of the next permanent chief executive appointment.
A statement of continuity, with details still to come
The firm has paid tribute to Rusi's contribution and says it intends to build on the manufacturing, dealer and product foundations developed under her leadership. It has not disclosed the recruitment process in detail, and no incoming permanent CEO has been announced in the release.
That careful distinction matters when reporting leadership news. There is a confirmed departure, a named interim executive and a stated plan to find a successor; claims about private discussions or an undisclosed new strategy would go beyond the published facts.
What to watch next
The next verified milestones will be a permanent CEO appointment and evidence of how the combined Finnish, Polish and US manufacturing and dealer operations develop. These can be assessed independently from the already published company ambitions and show announcements.
For boat owners, continuity will ultimately be visible in product delivery, service responsiveness and the availability of informed dealers. The official company statement establishes the immediate transition, while later operational and leadership announcements will show how the next chapter takes shape.