CY People: Quebec’s Christophe Lavigne, Former Doral Designer – Now President of Groupe Beneteau’s US Brands

Nov 8, 2018

Groupe Beneteau has announced Canada’s Christophe Lavigne’s as President of US brands Four Winns, Glastron, Wellcraft and Scarab.

Christophe graduated in mechanical engineering and design in France, and moved to Quebec. Since then Christophe Lavigne has devoted most of his career in the boating industries in Canada and then in the United States now he’s a proud 25-year veteran of the marine industry

With Luc St-Onge, Jean-Paul Trudel and Rejean Trotechaud, and a great team of drafters, plug builders and prototype builders, Christophe has designed all the Doral boats from 1995 to 2007. Christophe tells us “Alegria, Montecarlo, Elegante, Boca Grande, Meditera are few names that bring some great memories.” 

For the Doral Prestancia 32, Christophe made the best of the available space, and what a hit it was. A neat trick is the slide out aft leather covered lounge that can be extended 400mm out over the swim platform if extra room is needed in the cockpit. The lounge extends into a full-length sun lounge with a padded back and headrest. He has even added a single seat in the space next to the cockpit sink and fridge that sits behind the helm station. The helm station seats two with the centre section of the seat lifting up to form a bolster. 

Christophe has been Beneteau’s Vice President of Engineering and Customer Service in Cadillac (for the past eleven years, leading engineering and product development for all four brands. The acquisition in 2014 of RBH by Groupe Beneteau marked the start of an intense period of product renewal for all four brands that was successfully led by Christophe.

In his new role Christophe is responsible for leading all functional departments and driving the future success of the four brands. We can’t wait to see what Christophe will bring to the table his new role.

A proud Canadian moment, congratulations Christophe.

– AM