Today, May 20, 2014, saw Riviera, Australia’s favourite and most awarded manufacturer of luxury motor yachts, announce that West Australian entrepreneur, Rory Vassallo, will take the helm of its R Marine Perth dealership, effective immediately.

R Marine Perth owner care manager Tim Wright with Rory Vassallo

Riviera CEO Wes Moxey says the announcement marks an exciting new phase for R Marine Perth and creates the opportunity for the dealership to build on its commitment to helping Riviera and Belize owners enjoy the ultimate boating experience.

“Rory is already a passionate long-term Riviera owner so he understands our unrelenting commitment to quality and after-sales service,” Mr Moxey said. “In fact that ethos has helped him build his own successful business career.

“He’s a great fit for the Riviera and Belize Motoryachts brands – we feel Rory’s strong ethics and success in building winning teams will help take the dealership to a whole new level.”

There are nine R Marine network dealers throughout Australia and New Zealand – who are all Riviera and Belize Motoryacht specialists and are all committed to supporting their boat owners 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

R Marine Perth owner care manager Tim Wright said Mr Vassallo would bring fresh ideas to the dealership from both a successful business owner and Riviera boat owner’s perspective.

“Rory is widely known for his skills and experience in building businesses in Western Australia – it’s exciting to have someone with his strengths at the helm of R Marine Perth,” he said.

“We are going to create our own in-house service department and this will give us greater control over the quality of work on our clients’ boats and it will further enhance the Riviera and Belize customer experience.”

Respected West Australian boat sales executive Ben Watkins and office administrator Sue Totterdell are key members of the R Marine Perth team and will remain committed to delivering the exclusive level of service for which Riviera is renowned.

Mr Vassallo said he was excited to add a new aspect to Vassallo Corporation, which divested its investment in the West Australian childcare sector in March but retains a solid property development portfolio.

“R Marine Perth will add some fun and enjoyment to our business and I’m looking forward to being involved with bringing positive change to the marine industry in Western Australia,” he said.

“The Riviera and Belize boats themselves are so good they virtually sell themselves – they have a cult following and the challenge is to make that even better through after-sales service and exclusive experiences for our boat owners.

“I bought my first Riviera in 2009 and I’ve experienced first-hand the Riviera owners’ culture and the brand’s commitment to service – it’s something you have to experience to fully appreciate.

“I remember our first Riviera Experience trip to Geographe Bay and my wife Renee remarking how impressed she was with how we all had common interests and how everyone just got on together so well – these are great weekends.

“We are first-generation boating people and we learned a lot from the other Riviera owners who are only too happy to share their knowledge.”
Mr Vassallo said many of his business success strategies were already an integral part of the Riviera and R Marine Perth ideology – having a strong culture, focusing on relationships and ensuring you have a happy staff.

“All of this distinguishes the R Marine network. You’re not just buying a boat from a good network – you’re actually buying into the largest and best network … the only one of its kind in Australia and New Zealand,” he said.

“I can’t over-emphasise the importance of these kinds of relationships – it is the reason I have remained with Riviera as I kept upgrading my boats. In fact I’m really excited as I am about to take delivery of my latest Riviera, a 5800 Sport Yacht.”

R Marine Perth – located at the Aquarama Marina, Riverside Road, East Freemantle – offers both new and pre-owned Riviera luxury power boats from 36 to 75 feet across three model series – Flybrige, Sport Yacht and the SUV collections. The latest addition to the Riviera fleet of 15 vessels – the striking and sporty 515 SUV – will make her world premiere at this week’s Riviera Festival of Boating on the Gold Coast (May 22-25).

R Marine Perth also offers the Belize Motoryacht brand, which last year released its 54-foot Daybridge model.