Brunswick Corporation Names Executives to Navico Group and Technology Roles Ahead of CEO Transition

Brunswick Corporation announced on 29 September that it had appointed three executives to senior roles at its Navico Group and technology divisions, extending a leadership succession process announced earlier this month as Chief Executive Dave Foulkes prepares to retire, according to the company.

New Roles Effective January

Will Sangster, previously senior vice-president and president of Business Acceleration, will become executive vice-president and president of Navico Group, the marine electronics business, the company said. Karly Yuds, who has worked in supply chain and procurement roles at Mercury Marine since 2016, will succeed Sangster as head of Business Acceleration. Marco Bracalente, previously vice-president of product development and engineering at Navico Group, was named chief technology officer. All three appointments take effect on 1 January 2027, according to Brunswick.

Part of a Wider Transition

The moves come after Brunswick said Aine Denari, currently Navico Group’s president, will succeed Foulkes as chief executive from the same date, with David Everitt becoming non-executive chairman. Foulkes, who has led Brunswick since 2019, said the appointments “reflect our meticulous long-term talent and succession planning efforts.” Denari said Bracalente had “played a significant role in advancing our technology capabilities,” pointing to work on autonomy, connectivity and software-defined vessels. Denari herself brings more than 30 years of experience across the automotive, mobility, industrial and manufacturing sectors, according to Brunswick, having moved into her dual role as Navico Group president and Brunswick chief technology officer in 2024.

Why It Matters

Boardroom successions at major manufacturers are watched closely for what they signal about a company’s strategic priorities, and Brunswick’s decision to promote from within across its marine electronics and technology functions suggests continuity in a strategy centred on connected and increasingly autonomous boating technology, even as its most senior leadership changes for the first time in eight years.