Meet The Team
Thomas Batty
Director
Thomas Batty
Director
10 years at GF
- What do you love most about your job?
- Ability to travel the world and meet new clients from all different cultures and help them in achieving their vision to finalise the look of a beautiful yacht, home or aircraft. Better still all three!
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Spending time with friends, family and conversations with my daughter.
- What are your likes?
- Travel, meeting new people, trying new food from around the world, music from every genre and fast cars...
- What are your dislikes?
- Airport security lines, motorway service station food, the M6
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Passionate, Inquisitive, outgoing
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- Far too many memories to pick just one and for confidentiality reasons, I couldn't possibly share but to be involved with some of the world's most prolific people from Royals and diplomats to business leaders and the most discerning clients pursuing perfection in luxury.
- Fun fact about yourself
- I have a Blue Peter badge.
Rob Bieniasz
Managing Director
Rob Bieniasz
Managing Director
16 years at GF
- What do you love most about your job?
- Bringing people together to overcome challenges, helping to develop every aspect of our Company.
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Family days, participating in team sports, socialising.
- What are your likes?
- Solutions, rugby test matches, reading bedtime stories.
- What are your dislikes?
- Poor communication, shortcuts.
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Organiser, self-taught, calm.
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- An unnamed colleague leaving her handbrake off and her car rolling into Kevin's E-type. A good-natured client climbing into our display bed with a glass of champers. Walking down a quayside somewhere with our Head of Logistics, Ian. As we were talking Ian was spotting and proudly pointing out various accessories and towels that we'd supplied to the yachts on display.
- Fun fact about yourself
- I have played in a televised rugby game at Twickenham.
Jonathan Fawcett
Consultant
Jonathan Fawcett
Consultant
- What do you love most about your job?
- I love being part of a team when something that we are all striving for comes together.
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Sailing
- What are your likes? What are your dislikes?
- Likes: Boats, books, Labradors and the outdoors
Dislikes: Unkindness, exploitation and bullying
- Likes: Boats, books, Labradors and the outdoors
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Cautious, but hopefully quite caring and prone to use five words where one will do!
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- Many years ago in the 1990's Kevin and I bought some special offer flights to Seattle. There seemed to be lots of yachts being built there at the time. We decided to keep a photographic record of the trip (an old-fashioned camera with film). We carefully wrote notes about where every photo was taken and felt pretty pleased with ourselves. When the camera kept counting after it passed 36 we thought we had a problem. We did! I hadn't put a film in the camera! So memories of The Pacific Northwest remain in the mind, but it was a memorable trip.
- Fun fact about yourself
- I've always wanted to be able to at least get by in another language. I've tried learning French, Italian and Welsh! I've signed up for lots of courses and I've been to language teachers, but never got much further than 'Good morning. How are you?'! I've proved to myself that I haven't got much talent for languages, but I haven't completely given up hope!
Kevin Glancy
Chairman
Kevin Glancy
Chairman
- What do you love most about your job?
- Being able to enthuse and mentor our fantastic workforce. The people I work with, both colleagues and clients, and the fantastic feeling you get when a project gets delivered on time and the client is happy
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Travelling and spending time with my family
- What are your likes?
- Conversation, beer, food (curries), banter, entertaining and driving with my wife across the continent
- What are your dislikes?
- Rude people, gassy beer, bad service
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Focused, passionate and dedicated
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- When JF and myself ran out of fuel coming back from the first Monaco Yacht Show and we had to pay 500 francs to get five litres of fuel. JF was not happy...
- Fun fact about yourself
- Told my father in law I had an O Level in woodwork so that he would stop watching me put up a gate. In fact, I only have one O Level, and it's in art
Lauren Heyworth
Senior Client Manager
Lauren Heyworth
Senior Client Manager
11 years at GF
- What do you love most about your job?
- I love building lasting relationships with my clients and working with them throughout a project.
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Dog walking, horse riding and exploring the world.
- What are your likes?
- Being outdoors, travelling, reading, food and cocktails.
- What are your dislikes?
- Rainy days, animal abuse, queuing and negative vibes.
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Fun, friendly and honest.
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- My first trip to Monaco Yacht Show.
- Fun fact about yourself
- I once delivered twin lambs (Harry & Oliver).
Christie Mearns
Senior Account Manager
Christie Mearns
Senior Account Manager
10 years at GF
- What do you love most about your job?
- That every project is different which keeps things interesting.
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Socialising with family and friends.
- What are your likes?
- Good food, company and cocktails (espresso martini!)
- What are your dislikes?
- Rude and dishonest people.
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Outgoing, innovative, positive.
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- Going to Abu Dhabi and seeing one of my projects in person.
- Fun fact about yourself
- I have played lacrosse for England and studied at an American University.
Elizabeth Quiligotti
Director
Elizabeth Quiligotti
Director
10 years at GF
- What do you love most about your job?
- I have a genuine love for interiors and meeting people. We are lucky enough to work with so many different people and projects that each day brings something new.
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- I spend a lot of time outside, whether it's hiking with friends and family or an early morning run.
- What are your likes?
- I love good food, good wine and great company.
- What are your dislikes?
- Negativity, sprouts and reality television.
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Positive, vivacious and dedicated.
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- For me, ex. M/Y Arkely (60m Lurssen). I remember vividly thinking, "WOW" This now feels like a lifetime ago! I don't think you ever forget the first yacht you get to see.
- Fun fact about yourself:
- Martial Arts. I was trained at a competitive level in karate, kickboxing, and Muay Thai. I have the belts and bruises as proof!
Emma Spenceley
Marketing Manager
Emma Spenceley
Marketing Manager
- What do you love most about your job?
- I love the variety of the role, the friendly team and the new experiences that I get to encounter.
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Socialising with friends and walking my 2 crazy Spaniels.
- What are your likes?
- Travelling and gin!
- What are your dislikes?
- Heights and spiders.
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Sociable, organised and positive.
- Your favourite memory from your time at GF?
- Walking into the Showroom for the first time and then seeing the products in situ whilst delivering a client's project.
- Fun fact about yourself
- I have lived in Florence and Barcelona.
Charlie Walsh
Client Manager
Charlie Walsh
Client Manager
- Your favourite pastime out of work?
- Eating and drinking around town, visiting record shops and watching basketball.
- What are your likes?
- Wine, travel & Bob Dylan.
- What are your dislikes?
- Mushrooms, The Christmas Markets and staged viral videos.
- Three words to describe yourself?
- Calm, kind and driven.
- Fun fact about yourself
- I used to live on a tropical island