Vessev has announced plans for expansion into the US market. The New Zealand-based electric hydrofoiling ferry company – which picked up the Electric & Hybrid Marine Award for Environmental Achievement of the Year, Vessel Design in 2024 – has also announced the appointment of Josh Trout as director of North America. In this role, Trout will lead the establishment of Vessev’s US operations, oversee the production of Vessev craft in the US, and develop and streamline the company’s business development.
“As an American, nothing would make me prouder than bringing the New Zealand innovation to the States,” said Vessev CEO, Eric Laakmann. “There’s no shortage of possibilities in the land of opportunity, and this step is an important step forward for us at Vessev.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Josh to the Vessev team,” added John Scott, chairman of Vessev. “What we like about Josh is that his vision and ambition match Vessev’s. His extensive experience in sales, operations, and customer engagement, combined with his passion for marine innovation, makes him the ideal leader to drive Vessev’s growth in the US market.”
“I’ve worked at the bleeding edge of marine technology for over 20 years, and the innovation and forethought of Vessev’s unique hydrofoiling technology is unparalleled,” said Trout. “I have complete confidence that I can support the company’s US growth strategy with both sales and extending our reach in international markets. We are also exploring the opportunities to build our state-of-the-art vessels in the US, which will both create jobs and set the foundations for our service and support business in the US.”
