A wider service remit
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit has promoted Jason Berry to Director of Marine Service. His remit includes customer and technical call centres, field service, warranty, factory technical support, training and service publications.
That gives one leader oversight of many of the functions a boat owner encounters after an engine has been sold. Service quality can influence ownership satisfaction as much as the original product specification.
More than two decades at Yamaha
Berry joined Yamaha in 2005 and most recently served as Customer Experience Division Manager. In that role he supported Marine Field Service and call-centre operations across Outboard, WaterCraft and Bennett product lines.
His earlier positions included parts sales, accessory planning, field support and WaterCraft service management. That mix gives him experience across customer-facing work and the internal systems needed to support dealers.
Dealers depend on technical backup
Modern outboards and connected control systems place greater demands on diagnostics and technician training. Dealers need access to reliable technical information when faults cross between mechanical, electrical and software systems.
Warranty administration and factory communication also affect how quickly a customer gets back on the water. Strong manufacturer support can reduce delays that would otherwise leave a boat unusable during a short season.
Service becomes a competitive advantage
Yamaha supports a large U.S. dealer and boatbuilder network, making consistency a significant operational challenge. Central leadership can help align training, documentation and field support across that network.
For LBG readers, the appointment matters because after-sales support is one of the least visible parts of an outboard purchase until something goes wrong. A well-run service organisation can add real value throughout the ownership period.