Veteran boating industry executive Jeff Harris has been appointed as Iconic Marine Group’s new chief operating officer, as the company announced on Monday.
Harris, one of the founding employees at Fountain Powerboats 40 years ago, now leads the company encompassing the Fountain, Donzi Marine, and Baja Marine brands. He assumes this key position following the passing of Joe Curran on March 13 after a brief struggle with stomach cancer.
In offshore racing, Harris is a recognized figure, having earned eight World Championships and 12 National Championships throughout his illustrious racing career.
“No one values Iconic’s legacy more than I do,” Harris stated in a press release. “Since day one, we’ve maintained a competitive advantage, and I intend to enhance that. Boat enthusiasts expect a performance edge from Iconic, whether it’s Fountain’s 43′ NX flagship, the innovative Donzi 41′ GT, or the sought-after Baja 27′ Outlaw. My responsibility is to integrate all I’ve learned from racing and manufacturing into our already successful approach.” Harris has been involved in all facets of the marine industry, including manufacturing, sales, and customer service. He grew up and resides close to Iconic Marine’s location in Washington, N.C.
Iconic Marine Managing Partner Fred Ross indicated that Harris is the ideal leader for the boat manufacturer, which is still coming to terms with the loss of Curran.
“He joins IMG at a moment of momentum as the company has just recorded its best-ever quarter,” Ross shared in a statement. “My goal is to excel in every boat category we produce, and I believe no one can lead us there faster than Jeff Harris.” Fountain Powerboats founder Reggie Fountain backs the decision to appoint Harris to lead the three brands.
“Regardless of whether it’s about boat design, hull construction, rigging, sales, warranty, or engaging with customers at a boat show, Jeff’s expertise in running a boat company is unparalleled,” Fountain noted. “Behind the controls of a center console sport cruiser, a high-performance V-bottom, or a 185 mph Unlimited Superboat, there’s no one better.”