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. He succeeds Lenn Scholz, who is pursuing new opportunities outside the company.
“Zoelle brings a proven record of strategic leadership and commercial impact across the Brunswick portfolio through a series of high-impact roles at Mercury Marine and Sea Ray,” the company said in a media release. “Most recently, as general manager of Mercury Marine APAC, he spearheaded international market expansion and drove significant growth across the propulsion and P&A segments. His strategic leadership extended to Sea Ray, where he drove the launch of flagship models like the SLX-R 400e, earning recognition at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and playing a central role in the Sea Ray rebranding strategy, including the successful market introduction of the Fathom system and the portfolio expansion with the Sundancer 370.”
The company continued, “Zoelle’s commitment to advancing the marine industry is further reflected in his participation on the Board of the Outboard Engine Distributors Association (OEDA) in Australia, serving as its chairman for the past two years, advocating for outboard manufacturers and setting market standards.”
In his new role, Zoelle will lead Boston Whaler’s strategic vision, product innovation, operations, and drive commercial execution.
“I am honored to lead a brand with such a strong legacy and devoted customer base,” said 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.”
Brunswick also appointed Jerry Newton as VP of Operations for Boston Whaler. Newton brings 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.
“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,” said Brenna Preisser, president of Brunswick Boat Group. “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 added, “We also want to recognize Lenn Scholz for his many years of dedicated service to Brunswick. Lenn made meaningful contributions across several important roles, including VP of product development & engineering for Boat Group, president of Lund Boats, and president of Boston Whaler, and leaves behind a strong foundation for this brand. We’re grateful for everything he brought to this organization and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Image courtesy Boston Whaler/Brunswick Corporation
