Brunswick Boat Group, a division of Brunswick Corporation, has appointed Brad Zoelle as president of Boston Whaler. Zoelle most recently served as general manager of Mercury Marine APAC and succeeds Lenn Scholz, who is leaving the company.
Brunswick has also appointed Jerry Newton as vice president of operations for Boston Whaler. Newton has 25 years of operational experience, including the past two years as president of Brunswick’s Venture Boat Group and 15 years in operational leadership roles at John Deere.
Enrique Bolanos has been named as the new general manager of Mercury Marine APAC, replacing Zoelle.
As general manager of Mercury Marine APAC, Zoelle oversaw operations in the Asia-Pacific region and managed activity across propulsion and parts and accessories segments. At Sea Ray, he was involved in the launch of models including the SLX-R 400e, and the addition of the Sundancer 370 to the product range.
Zoelle also serves on the board of the Outboard Engine Distributors Association (OEDA) in Australia and has been chairman for the past two years.
In his new role, Zoelle will oversee product development, operations and commercial activity for Boston Whaler.
“I am honoured to lead a brand with such a strong legacy and devoted customer base,” says Zoelle. “For more than half a century, Boston Whaler has set the standard in our industry, earning its reputation through relentless innovation, uncompromising quality, and an unwavering focus on what customers love about being on the water. I look forward to collaborating with our exceptional team to build upon that foundation, accelerate growth, deliver world-class products, and shape what’s next for this iconic brand.”
“Brad’s impressive track record across multiple brands at Brunswick and his deep understanding of our industry make him the right leader for Boston Whaler’s next phase of growth,” says Brenna Preisser, Brunswick Boat Group president. “We’ve been strategically positioning Boston Whaler for success: streamlining operations at the Edgewater campus and making meaningful investments in product development. The brand has exceptional market positioning and a strong foundation to build from. Together, Brad and Jerry bring the leadership depth and experience to ensure Boston Whaler is well-positioned for continued success.”
Preisser adds: “We also want to recognise Lenn Scholz for his many years of dedicated service to Brunswick. Lenn made meaningful contributions across several important roles, including VP of product development and engineering for Boat Group, president of Lund Boats and president of Boston Whaler, and he leaves behind a strong foundation for this brand. We’re grateful for everything he brought to this organisation and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
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