Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit has appointed Dean Burnett as VP of Marine Business. In his new role, Burnett oversees the Yamaha U.S. Marine Development and Advanced Development teams and Yamaha’s Boat Business Unit, which includes the WaterCraft Business Group, G3 Boats and Skeeter Boats.
Burnett is also president of Skeeter Products, Inc. and leads Yamaha’s Connected Division as president of Siren Marine, Inc.
“Dean has a deep understanding of the marine industry, and his leadership plays an integral role in Yamaha’s success,” said Ben Speciale, president of Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “His tenure with Yamaha is marked by strategic growth, operational excellence and a strong commitment to our customers and partners. We are grateful to have him back in the U.S. and confident he will drive success in his new role.”
A 30-year veteran of Yamaha, Burnett most recently served as president and managing director of Yamaha Motor Canada, Ltd. (YMCA) for three years, managing 10 Yamaha product lines for the country. Additionally, Burnett served as president and managing director of Yamaha Motor Finance Canada, Ltd. (YMFCA) for two years, during which time he played a key role in integrating YMFCA into the newly formed global finance company Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation.
Before his time in Canada, Burnett was the president of the Yamaha WaterCraft Business Group and led its customer service and boat businesses.
Burnett reportedly grew up in the marine business, learning the retail side from his father and uncle at the family marine dealership in Louisville, KY. He worked in many aspects of the family business, including parts sales, inventory management, servicing outboards, and working at local trade shows. He began his career with Yamaha in 1987, spending four years in sales and marketing roles for the company in the California market.
Burnett left Yamaha in 1991 and spent the next four years working with Boston Whaler and Grady White as a territory manager. He also held positions with Fenwick Fishing Tackle and Mercury Marine before taking on the role of national sales manager for Yamaha-owned Skeeter Boats, Inc. of Kilgore, TX, in 1997. He became VP of sales and marketing in 2001, and throughout his tenure at Skeeter, Burnett reportedly played a significant role in streamlining the sales, marketing and customer service departments.
In January of 2003, Yamaha named Burnett VP and general manager of Century and Cobia Boats, two boat manufacturers also owned and managed by Yamaha then. While at Century, he oversaw production, sales, marketing, design, engineering, and product planning.
In May of 2010, Yamaha appointed Burnett as VP of Yamaha Marine Group Company, succeeding Ben Speciale, who became president of the Marine Group at that time. Burnett had a broad range of operational duties within the group, including general oversight of the Yamaha Boat Companies and Yamaha Marine Precision Propellers, a division of Yamaha Marine Systems Co., Inc.
Images courtesy Skeeter Boats/Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit
