Fredrik Delić: Swedish Work Ethic, Croatian Roots

The main reason for that is skilled and motivated management of the company, which has been led by Gordan Zadro since the foundation till nowdays. Therefore, it is very interesting to get to know his ‘wing-men’, who took the role of the main operational manager, striving to maintain the existing values and open the new horizons for Navis. And lean heavily on his Swedish working habits and Croatian roots.

CAN YOU PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR POSITION IN NAVIS MARINE?
I serve as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Navis Marine, where I oversee day-to-day operations and work closely with the owner and our partners to drive growth and strategic development.

WHAT IS THE REASON YOU CAME TO CROATIA? 
It was a combination of a compelling job opportunity at a very dynamic company and the chance to work closely with the owner of Navis Marine, my friend Mr. Gordan Zadro. Having already worked in the nautical business for many years, I was eager to continue in this sector abroad, and Croatia felt like a truly interesting place – especially given my family heritage.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SHORT-TERM GOALS?
My short-term goal is to continue strengthening the company together with our owner, employees, and business partners. We have already delivered on a number of important projects, and in the near term we will roll out new initiatives that will further expand our services and enhance our presence in the market.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE MARKET OPPORTUNITY FOR NAVIS IN FUTURE?
I see significant opportunities for Navis Marine in the segment of larger yachts. Combined with our strategy to expand our brokerage and further develop comprehensive service solutions, we are moving towards offering more turn-key experiences for our clients – an approach I believe will become increasingly important in the future.

CAN YOU COMMENT ON THE BRANDS YOU HAVE IN THE CURRENT PORTFOLIO?
At Navis Marine, we take pride in an exceptionally strong portfolio of brands. We represent some of the most prestigious names in the nautical world – such as Azimut-Benetti, Windy, Solaris, and Pirelli Speedboats –brands that stand for innovation, craftsmanship, and reliability. Together, they empower us to deliver a complete range of solutions that meet the expectations of even the most distinguished clients.

BIG YACHTS ARE SOMETHING WHERE BENETTI DOMINATES FOR YEARS?
Yes, absolutely, Darko. Benetti has long set the standard in the large yacht segment. At the same time, Azimut’s offering in this area is becoming stronger each year – particularly with the expansion of the Azimut Grande range, as well as the new larger models in the Magellano and Fly series, which are proving to be highly competitive.

DURING YOUR BUSINESS VENTURE IN CROATIA, CAN YOU PLEASE COMPARE IT WITH SWEDEN, AND POINT SOME GOOD AND SOME BAD CROATIAN HABITS?
Croatia and Sweden are of course very different, each with their own strengths and challenges. Although I have family heritage from the region, working here has still been a new and enriching experience. Generally, I would say Sweden tends to be more structured and organized, while in Croatia people seem to enjoy a better balance between work and private life. There is a stronger sense of enjoying the moment here, whereas in Sweden people often appear more stressed. Both approaches have their own advantages, and I value learning from both countries/cultures.