British luxury yacht maker Sunseeker has confirmed new ownership, a permanent CEO and a new chairman, marking the third change of hands in less than two years for one of Britain’s most recognised marine brands.
A consortium led by KCP Holdings has completed a debt purchase from existing lenders Cheyne Capital and Cross Ocean Partners. KCP is a New York-headquartered investment firm established in 1952, with offices in London, Singapore, and Washington, DC.
Wood Central understands that it will shortly enter into an agreement to acquire 100% of Sunseeker’s shares. The transaction is subject to UK regulatory approvals under the National Security and Investment Act, expected to clear within weeks. All 2,000 Dorset jobs and shipyard operations continue as normal in the meantime.
Andrés Rubio steps in as permanent CEO, replacing Scott Millar, the Teneo senior managing director who held the role on an interim basis since December. Millar took over following Andrea Frabetti’s departure after six years at the helm. Rubio spent three decades in commercial leadership across the US, Europe and Asia, most recently as CEO of pan-European credit management firm Intrum AB and before that as Senior Partner at Apollo Management International.
“I have long admired Sunseeker as the pinnacle of luxury yacht building, and its heritage genuinely sets it apart,” Rubio said. “It is an honour to be leading the business at such an exciting time and with a clear path to transformative growth.”
“I am also privileged to be joining a highly experienced leadership team and a dedicated workforce that is the heart and soul of the Sunseeker brand. We now have committed owners, an established leadership team, an industry-leading Chairman, and a clear plan. With the backing of KCP and Lionheart and an accelerated focus on delivering our ambitions, I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
Joining him is Antony Sheriff as Non-Executive Chairman. Sheriff has sat on the Sunseeker board since November 2024 and previously served as Executive Chairman of Plymouth rival Princess Yachts and, before that, CEO of McLaren Automotive.
So what does KCP actually want with Sunseeker?
Wood Central understands the new owners are backing Sunseeker’s existing business plan in full, covering next-generation product development, a return to Superyacht building, and a transformation of the operating model. KCP is investing alongside Miami-based Lionheart Capital, one of two private equity firms that first acquired Sunseeker in 2024.
Sources close to the deal say the priority is straightforward: get Sunseeker building British again. The new owners want the brand to focus on larger yachts and superyachts, with the performance reputation the yard spent decades building put back at the forefront of every decision.
The backdrop is not pretty. June 2025 brought 200 redundancies, around 10 per cent of the workforce, with management pointing to weak global demand and the fallout from US trade tariffs. By November, lenders had injected fresh capital, Frabetti was gone, and Sunseeker had installed new sales and marketing leadership in Mark Chinery and Mario Gornati. Five yachts were sold at the 2026 Miami Yacht Show. The 21-model range still ships to more than 60 countries.
Whether that’s enough of a foundation is now Rubio’s problem.
“This is a significant milestone, one that provides the financial stability and long-term commitment the business needs to deliver on its ambitions,” KCP said. “Sunseeker prepares for its next chapter of growth.”
