Board of Directors
Chairperson Matthias Böhmen – CMI, German, based in Hamburg – chair@gmi-eu.org
Meet Matthias:
Born in the North of Germany, I have spent most of my leisure time sailing.
After finishing secondary school, I left North Germany for University. Hence the time and opportunities to go sailing decreased more and more. Finally, studying in Marburg (Lahn), I had the chance again to go sailing and soon started working as a sailing instructor while maintaining the university boats on weekends and holidays.
I realized how much I had missed working with boats and decided to become a boat builder. I started as an apprentice at a boatyard focused on modern wooden boatbuilding. Soon I discovered the attraction and possibilities of FRP and began specializing in this material and its production methods.
My last position in a boatyard was COO of a company specialized in lightweight equipment for the Mega Yacht industry and for Naval vessels.
In 2005, I was offered the opportunity to become the in-house surveyor for pleasure crafts within the Marine Department of an insurance company (AIG Europe Limited) – I attended my first IAMI conference in 2007. In 2010, I was asked to take care of Loss Control for the whole Marine Portfolio, including the cargo and forwarders liability book.
I am a business economist (HwK) and hold a master craftsman’s diploma in boatbuilding, as well as in shipbuilding, also the SCC-Certificate (security certified contractor). I am a qualified person for LPG installations on recreational marine craft (G608) and mobile campers (G607).
In 2014, I passed the CMI exam and in the summer of 2016, I finished my studies and am now a certified “Specialist Fraud Fighter” (DVA) I represent our company at the German Offshore Sport Association Hansa (DHHe.V.), the German Boat- and Ship Building Association (DBSV) as well as at the National Association of pleasure craft industries (BVWW). I take part on a regular basis in professional development offered by the German Association of Pleasure Craft and Shipbuilder Surveyors (VBS e.V.).
With my family, I am living next to the Baltic Sea.
Languages: German, English
Former Chairperson Dr. Yusuf Civelekoglu – CMI, Turkish, based in BodrumMeet Matthias:
Meet Yusuf:
Currently I am co-owner and senior surveyor of marineSOLUTIONS, a company specialized in marine survey, consulting and management.
I was born in 1953 in Istanbul, where I grew up and attended high school. It was there that I first developed an interest in the sea, in particular boat building, sailing, diving and marine traditions. I graduated in physics, though. Eventually my postdoctoral studies took me to a university on the coast in the USA, where I soon found myself back on the water. In 1984, while in the UK, I bought a traditional wooden cutter and cruised her back to Turkey via Biscay.
In 1987 I settled in Bodrum, where I still live today, and I got involved in repairing offshore yachts.
In 1990, I took over the management of a shipyard and thereafter, in 2001, I set up a repair company and managed it until my business partner took it over in 2012. Since 2003, I have increasingly been carrying out survey work for insurance and offshore survey companies, banks and individuals.
I hold a diver’s certificate and a commercial yacht master’s degree. I am a member of the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC), the German Boatbuilders’ Association (DBSV), an affiliate member of the YDSA, and I am a representative of the Trans Ocean and the Cruising Division yacht associations of Germany. I am on the boards of the Turkish Wooden Boat Builders’ Association (KAYIK) and the Turgutreis Seamen’s Association (TDD).
Next to my native Turkish, I am fluent in English and German.
Board Member Federico Borrea, Italian, based in Italy – coordinator@gmi-eu.org
Meet Federico:
born near Rome, he studied as chemist.
During the past decade he lived and worked across Europe as representative for several companies in assets recovery
Stepped in to the marine business since 2012, he had been working for several italian companies, encharged to enhance international relationships
Free lance since late 2015, He led several tracing, recovery and auction operations of boats
Nowadays he works as IT Data Procurement for Italy for fintech companies like Brightmaven from Netherlands and Mohawk Analytics from Norway
Federico lives with his family near Iseo’s lake.
Languages: Italian, English, Spanish
Member of IAATI
Board Member Ron Vermeulen Dutch, based in The Netherlands – sponsors@gmi-eu.org
Meet Ron:
Ron is the founder of Sjerlok platform (2012), currently Director Operations at Mohawk Analytics. Ron started his career in the army (SF) and has a degree in intelligence and operational management. After this he became CEO in a transport& logistic company. Ron’s expertise developed due to the multiple entrepreneurship on innovation, data and digital investigation..
June 2013 Ron started the Sjerlok project inside Delta Lloyd the Dutch insurance company and launched the Sjerlok platform in September 2015 for the board of Directors. From December 2016 Ron started COO and as co-founder Brightmaven and build with the team, Brightmaven to respectable company with financial customers in 10 countries, with a day to day task on claim reduction on theft and fraud with Sjerlok platform. March 2020 Mohawk acquires Brightmaven and Ron will continue the journey he has started with Sjerlok inside Mohawk.