Sanja Božović becomes the new Sales Director of Sanlorenzo Adria after three years in the group, bringing her field of expertize and immediate success with great perspective
We were happy to hear that Sanlorenzo Adria has a new Sales Director, the women who is rising star of regional yacht sales, at the same time including Bluegame into their portfolio.
Mr. Schillinger, the CEO of the Master Yachting Group and Sanlorenzo Adria, wanted to give us personal insight about the important change in his team: ‘Personnel development is one of the important tasks in the Master Yachting Group and we are very pleased that we can fill this extremely important position from our own human resources with a person who has already been working with us for three years. Sanja Božović has consistently built up her sales area, Serbia and Montenegro over the last three years and became the most successful client consultant for Sanlorenzo Yachts in the Master Yachting Group. Her new responsibility is crucial to the continued development of our organisation’s sales strategy and revenue growth. In her role as Sales Director, Sanja will lead Sanlorenzo Adria’s client consultants in Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, BiH, North Macedonia and Albania. She will continue to take care of clients in Serbia and Montenegro herself.’
The success of Sanlorenzo Adria is very important for development of Master Yachting Group which is represented in 11 countries with headquarters in Vienna, Austria, sales offices in Munich, Dresden and Düsseldorf as well Zurich, Switzerland, while Sanlorenzo Adria sales offices are in Rovinj and Sukošan and of course Montenegro, the home of new director, who said: ‘I agreed to work in sales out of curiosity, to see how that’s done, because I come from the charter world and sale has never been our primary activity. For the entire first year I was an observer, I wanted to see if that was really something for me, and I set no conditions. After a year, I began to better understand how new yachts sales work. Whatever I do, I rely on expertise, and I have always made sure to stay unpretentious, to just hide behind the name Sanlorenzo, but to see what I can learn from my colleagues. I soon realized I was doing quite well, and I liked my job. I also realized that I would learn the most if I did the sales myself, so I did. There’s no theoretic knowledge you can rely on in this business.’
WHAT DOES YOUR CURRENT JOB LOOK LIKE?
We have recently sold several boats, and we have a lot of clients waiting. This is really a ‘people business’ and it is important that people trust me, so that’s my motivator. Also, I think the most important thing you can have in this line of work is passion, you have to love sales and you have to like working with people. I love both yachts and people, but also the lifestyle that yachting offers, so I like introducing others to that lifestyle. Cruising is a delightful activity, so in charter, I was happy to offer a client a week or two of happiness. Now I have experienced how happy people become when they buy a boat that really suits their needs, like a Sanlorenzo. I find it important to be able to rely on my co-workers, and be the person they can rely on.
HAVE YOU BEEN IN YACHTING FOR A LONG TIME?
I think everyone has been in yachting longer than I have, although I have also been in this environment for a long time. My first steps were made in the family business, as we had sailboats for charter, and later motor yachts. After my studies in Italy, I came to do booking in the summer, maybe a little too early, because it was before Porto Montenegro was finished, a project which put Montenegro on the nautical map. I wondered if yachting was really for me, and I was getting interested in larger motor yachts. Over time, people simply began to see me as someone who knows about yachting.
YOU ALSO KNOW THE WORLD OF GENERAL AVIATION?
I have an inquisitive mind, which helps me a lot in my work. Sometimes I get a nice idea, like during the pandemic, when you could only get into Montenegro on private plane. First, I helped my friends, then strangers started calling me. In a month and a half, we transported 250 people by private flights to Montenegro, and so my business grew another segment, which is especially favored today by yacht owners.
HOW DO YOU SEE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SANLORENZO ADRIA IN THE COMING YEARS?
I don’t like to come anywhere empty-handed, so I’m happy to say that Bluegame became a partner thanks to my contribution. Our CEO is aware of the potential of this region, as in three years we have sold a solid number of yachts due to the very presence of Sanlorenzo Adria. We have worked very hard to be the first name people think about when they want to find their dream boat, and we are very fortunate to be working with such a great brand. This potential is also reflected in the shipyard portfolio, so I expect that in five years we will hold an important position in the entire region.
YOU HOSTED TWO IMPORTANT EVENTS IN JUNE.
One took place in Porto Montenegro, and one in Split. We had an SD 96, a Bluegame BGX 63 and a Bluegame 42 on display. We are very happy to have had the opportunity to present Sanlorenzo models in person, so to say, here in the Adriatic, and to host partners and guests from all over the region. We are also looking forward to opening our new office on a premium location in Porto Montenegro.
Photos & video Sanlorenzo Adria
