Fraser Asia’s Growing Role in Global Network
As Fraser Asia expands its team numbers and strengthens links with the global offices of the superyacht brokerage house, senior ranks share insights on the company’s current and future plans. The post Fraser Asia’s Growing Role in Global Network appeared first on LUXUO.
As the superyacht industry in Asia continues to grow, Fraser has been reinforcing its regional presence with an ongoing strategic staff expansion for the past five years. Now boasting a strong team of 10 across yacht sales, charter broker, yacht management and marketing, Fraser Asia is being further strengthened by the continuing support of the company’s global network.
In a roundtable discussion, Yacht Style gathered insights from the Fraser Asia team including Laura Verbrugge (Asia Manager, based in Hong Kong), Jacqueline Lee, Candy Li (Hong Kong-based yacht brokers), Suhaimi Badri (Singapore Manager) and Benjamin Tabuteau (Thailand Manager), as well as Fraser CEO Anders Kurtén and Senior Broker Jan Jaap Minnema, both based in Monaco.
Fraser Asia has been expanding its team in the past five years across multiple offices, which include three in Asia – Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand. How does this strengthen your regional presence?
Laura Verbrugge: Asia is a dynamic and growing market, and having the right team on the ground is crucial. By bringing in top-tier talent – both in brokerage and operational roles – we’re ensuring our clients receive the highest level of service and that we also understand local culture and needs.
Whether it’s in sales, charter or management, our expanded team allows us to be more responsive and proactive in meeting the needs of yacht owners and buyers in the region.
Jacqueline Lee and Candy Li: Hong Kong remains a pivotal hub for high-net-worth clients. With our expanded team, we’re able to offer more personalised service from yacht acquisitions to management and charter logistics. Our connection to Fraser’s global network means clients in the Asia region have access to the best yachts and expertise worldwide.
Suhaimi Badri: Singapore’s role as a gateway to Southeast Asia makes it a critical base for us. The new team members enhance our ability to manage complex transactions and regulatory requirements, ensuring smooth operations for owners cruising in ASEAN waters.
Benjamin Tabuteau: Thailand continues to grow as a preferred private cruising destination in Asia, and our team plays a critical support role in that ecosystem. We assist owners and captains with everything from paperwork and local compliance to refit coordination, maintenance and charter management.
Backed by Fraser’s global network, our on-the-ground expertise ensures that yachts operating here are not only legally compliant but also maintained to the highest standards, making Thailand an ideal base for charter operations.
Jan Jaap, as a Senior Broker working across Fraser’s global network, how do you support the Asia market?
Jan Jaap Minnema: Supporting the Asia market is an exciting part of what I do. Working across our global network means I can connect clients in Asia not just with the best yachts available locally, but also with opportunities worldwide.
Asia’s yachting scene is growing fast, and every client is different – some are looking for family cruising yachts, others for serious investment pieces – so it’s about really listening, understanding what they want and guiding them through every step.
I stay closely connected with our teams on the ground in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and beyond, making sure we’re offering advice that’s tailored, not just copied and pasted from elsewhere. Whether it’s helping a first-time buyer find the right build team, setting up a charter programme or advising on the latest market trends, my goal is to make the whole process smooth, smart and enjoyable.
With my 25 years of worldwide yachting experience, a client has all the benefits of our contacts with all the major shipyards in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Turkey. And honestly, relationships are everything in this market. It’s about trust, discretion and being there for the long-term – not just one deal. That’s something Fraser really believes in, and how we’ve built such strong ties across the region.
What trends are you seeing in Asia’s superyacht scene?
Jan Jaap Minnema: The Asian market’s evolving fast. It’s not just about owning a yacht anymore, it’s about experiences. Clients want to go further, to places like Papua New Guinea or hidden Indonesian islands, so explorer yachts are in big demand.
Customisation is non-negotiable now; they want yachts that match their lifestyle perfectly, inside and out. Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’ either – hybrid tech and eco-conscious builds are really catching on.
Chartering’s exploding too, with more people trying before they buy, especially around Thailand and the Philippines. Honestly, Asia’s not ‘the next market’ – it’s already here and it’s serious.
What’s the road ahead for Fraser Asia?
Laura Verbrugge: For our clients, this expansion translates directly into better service and more opportunities. We’re now able to deliver faster response times, as our local presence eliminates time-zone barriers, wider yacht selections and more localised support across Asia’s key cruising grounds.
Our growing team means each client gets more dedicated attention, whether they’re looking to buy, sell, charter or manage their yacht.
Jan Jaap Minnema: The future is about local expertise with global reach. Whether a client is in Bangkok or Monaco, they benefit from Fraser’s unified network across 20-plus countries and territories – a true rarity in this industry.
With stronger teams in key Asian markets and the backing of Fraser’s worldwide resources with more than 300 specialists, we’re perfectly positioned to accompany our clients in their next superyacht chapter. This powerful combination of local knowledge and international scale makes Fraser the natural partner for Asia’s most discerning yachting enthusiasts.
Anders, as CEO of Fraser, can you provide a concluding note?
Anders Kurtén: Having spent two days at this year’s Asia-Pacific Superyacht Summit, and subsequent days with our Fraser team on the ground in Hong Kong, I am ever more convinced that Asia is one of the most promising emerging markets for superyacht services. And I find that our Fraser values of honesty, integrity and respect dovetail well with the diverse cultures that we encounter across the major Asian markets where we have a presence.
As ever, having the best people on the ground is key because our clients generally are not interested in working with the ‘biggest’ company but the best. And managing to be the best, the size will automatically follow as a function of the quality service that is provided, time and time again.
Having recently added some new key hires to our Fraser Asia team leaves us ever better positioned to capitalise on the significant growth that I expect the region to offer us in the coming years.
This article was first seen on YachtStyle.com.
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