Our Story
Gartner Development was formed in 2022, but our history began ten years earlier. In 2012, inspired by industry icons such as Friedrich Lürssen, Frans Heesen, and Lorenzo Benetti. Our founder, Clément Gartner, took the first step in realizing his vision with the formation of Gartner Yacht Services, his first entrepreneurial venture.
Since 2012, Clément has started or acquired seven service businesses. Initially focused on the luxury yacht market, in 2020, he formed Hull Defense as a French naval subcontractor. In 2022, Gartner was formed to consolidate Clément’s operating companies under a single ownership structure.
The acquisition of Italia Super Yacht marks a significant milestone in achieving Clément’s vision. The evolution from service provider to shipyard operator is an important achievement, providing the facilities and operational platform to build our brand and fully leverage opportunities for growth.
Exceeding Expectations: Our strategy for building a market leading enterprise is results driven. Delivering exceptional client experiences and project outcomes that surpass every metric of client satisfaction defines success.
Gartner Development is a holding company headquartered in Toulon, France. Through our operating subsidiaries, we provide ship design, construction, refit and repair for the luxury yacht and naval defense markets.
Our principal subsidiaries are Italia Super Yacht, based in Viareggio, Italy, serving the luxury yacht market, and Hull Defense, based in Toulon, France, which provides naval fleet refit, maintenance, and other specialized services.
Our growth has been the result of an acquisition strategy focused on identifying and purchasing companies with the potential for strong growth and high returns.
Our acquisition criteria focuses on profitable industry operators that provide opportunities for product and service line expansion and diversification, entrance into new geographical or consumer markets, and improving value chain efficiency. Above all, we assessed value beyond the balance sheet. With each acquisition we have added highly skilled, experienced and entrepreneurially- minded individuals to our team.
Mission and Culture
Mission: Passion, Precision, Product, Perfection
Gartner has earned an enviable reputation for service quality, innovation, flexibility, and a detail-oriented, client-centric approach to the markets we serve. Our mission statement was inspired by the late owner of Italia Super Yacht, whose passion for yachting motivated his acquisition of a shipyard for the singular purpose of building the perfect yacht.
Our culture is entrepreneurial and driven by a common passion and collaborative approach required to exceed expectations with each client engagement. In an industry known for being insular, opaque, and slow to innovate. Our commitment to transparency, relationships, and accountability is rare.
Our vision of becoming an industry leading brand requires a disruptive business model that combines a devotion to traditional shipbuilding while pushing the boundaries of innovation with new ideas for product design, operational efficiency, sustainability, and organizational growth.
Our Values
Our vision of building an industry leading enterprise is not based on size or measure of financial performance. Our leadership objective is centred on a specific set of core values that we feel are essential to long term success.
Reputation – In an industry dominated by established multigenerational brands, our reputation for design innovation, quality craftsmanship, and reliability will continue to be a key competitive advantage opportunity driver. Our goal is simply to exceed client expectations, and integrity guides all our actions. We adhere to the highest ethical standards, ensuring that our business practices are honest, transparent, and respectful of all stakeholders.
Relationships - As a client-centric organization, we strive to understand each client’s unique needs and objectives, delivering personalized solutions that create long-term relationships built on trust and satisfaction. Our network of industry relationships is also a vital resource and
Heritage – Excellence in shipbuilding requires an appreciation and respect for the industry’s legacy. As Gartner continues to make its mark and push the boundaries of innovation, we are ever mindful of the standards which define excellence in ship design and construction.
Future Plans
Acquisitions will continue to drive our growth strategy, and we will continue to pursue opportunities with the potential to meaningfully increase revenue and improve profitability. Our plan focuses primarily on identifying business acquisitions that improve our organizational capabilities in the following areas:
Innovation: Shipbuilding intersects art, craftsmanship, and technology. Innovation will continue to play a crucial role in shipbuilding, with advancements in materials, construction techniques, design, engineering, and equipment.
Capacity: Acquiring additional shipyard facilities in locations with a strong base of skilled-trade labor, middle-management, and engineering talent will allow us to scale quickly and confidently.
Value Chain Efficiency: The pandemic exposed supply chain vulnerabilities within the industry. Our vertical integration strategy involves acquiring suppliers to ensure uninterrupted production capacity and reducing costs. In addition, our strategy considers acquisition opportunities along the entire industry value chain, from yacht sales to management.
Special Projects: Vessel design and development for military, law enforcement, and other maritime security applications is usually exclusive to larger shipbuilders. We look to capitalize on our defense industry expertise, by developing new Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) and Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUV) concepts.
Services
A Dedicated Partner: With each engagement, our goal is to create a partnership based on trust, transparency and a dedication to exceeding every expectation.
Gartner provides ship design, engineering, construction, refit and vessel maintenance. Our reputation is based on a track record of success, even with the most challenging project requirements.
Customer Focus
At Gartner, our customers are at the center of everything we do. We strive to understand their unique needs and deliver personalized solutions that exceed expectations, fostering long-term relationships built on trust and satisfaction.
Integrity
Integrity guides all our actions at Gartner. We adhere to the highest ethical standards, ensuring that our business practices are honest, transparent, and respectful towards all stakeholders.
Quality Assurance
Quality is non-negotiable at Gartner. Our rigorous quality assurance processes ensure that every yacht we design, build, or service meets the highest standards of excellence and reliability.
Innovation & Technology
We are committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements. By integrating the latest innovations in yacht design and construction, we provide our clients with cutting-edge solutions that set new industry standards.
Client Support
Exceptional client support is a hallmark of Gartner. From the initial consultation to post-delivery service, our dedicated support team is always available to assist and ensure a seamless and satisfying experience.
Heritage & Expertise
With over two decades of experience, Gartner has built a rich heritage of excellence in the yachting industry. Our deep expertise and continuous learning ensure that we remain leaders in delivering superior yacht solutions.
Team
Bound by a shared passion for the sea, the Gartner management team comprises individuals with diverse skill sets and professional experience. This mix of entrepreneurial talent, expertise, and technical knowledge is essential to achieving our organisational goals and objectives.
CEO & Founder
Clément Gartner
Clément Gartner is the visionary founder and CEO of Gartner Development, established in 2000 in Toulon, France.
With over 20 years of expertise in yacht design and construction, Clément has propelled the company to prominence in the luxury yachting industry.
His leadership focuses on innovation and exceptional customer service, ensuring Gartner Development's reputation for excellence and growth.
Finance and Operations
Randy Beckham
I have over 25 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience working in multiple industry sectors with major investment firms and offshore private banks. I entered the yachting industry in 2019 as an owner’s representative, assisting a client with purchasing and refitting his first yacht.
As a result of this rather unusual mandate, I was exposed to almost every aspect of yachting and developed a passion for the industry. This ultimately led to joining Gartner, where Clément’s vision, reputation, and business strategy presented a compelling opportunity to apply my financial engineering expertise.
My responsibilities include financing, acquisition related activities, and managing non-technical operations (corporate administration, human relations, accounting, and legal). I have a BSc in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina.
Business Development
Greg Gibson
I have over a decade of experience in the yachting industry, beginning in 2014 as a deckhand. I successfully climbed the ranks to the position of Chief Mate before transitioning from crew to project management in 2021.
My progression in yachting was a result of a personal dedication to exceptional performance at every level. Prior to yachting, my professional experience included serving in management positions with market leading companies such as Amazon.
With years of business experience and a network of relationships with yacht owners, managers, and service providers, I joined Gartner to bring a client-centric, no-nonsense approach to business development and project acquisition that is rare within the industry.