As part of its goal to prioritize first-hand knowledge, the Acquera Group has made a strategic acquisition. It has taken the majority ownership of Wilsonhalligan, which for 20 years has focused on recruiting onboard and onshore professionals.
With a focus on the Caribbean, Mediterranean and, more recently, the Middle East, Acquera Group has two divisions. Acquera Yachting provides yacht-agent services. It therefore provides assistance with customs clearance, slip reservations, planning itineraries, bunkering, technical supplies, and more. It’s been in business since 2018, with headquarters in Venice, Italy. It grew out of the complementary experience of founder and CEO Stefano Tositti (below). Acquera Group also operates the Acquera Club, under which invitation-only membership affords superyacht owners and non-owners access to luxury experiences.
Although Wilsonhalligan has a narrower niche, it is no less a logical fit. Individuals with experience at sea established it in 2006, purposely to recruit top talent for owners, captains, and managers of private and charter yachts. It finds both those who have served aboard yachts as well as those who are new to yachting. Notably, in 2021, it won the ACREW Superyacht Business Award, voted on by captains and crew, for Best Superyacht Recruitment Agency. Since its origins, it has expanded into other sectors of the maritime industry, including recruiting shipyard personnel. Additionally, it sources and places staff for private homes.
While Acquera Group has majority control, it’s keeping Wilsonhalligan as an independent brand. “We are building strategic expertise that will allow us to further contribute to the development of the yachting industry globally,” Tositti comments. “We are proud to partner with a company that has built its reputation on excellence and its ability to identify top talent.”
Wilsonhalligan’s current management team, including Liam Dobbin (above) and Nicola Morgan, is remaining in place. “Thanks to the Group’s global presence, we will be able to expand our business and serve a greater number of clients,” Dobbin says.
Acquera Yachting acquerayachting.com
Wilsonhalligan wilsonhalligan.com
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