Award-winning marina precinct, Abell Point Marina, welcomes new General Manager, Kate Purdie, to the team. Ms Purdie replaces Luke McCaul as General Manager of the largest marina on the east coast of Queensland.
With 517 wet berths and berthing to accommodate vessels up to 80m in length, Abell Point Marina has over recent years experienced an $18 million redevelopment to become an award-winning marina precinct and tourist destination in the Whitsundays.
Having led the business through the redevelopment, outgoing General Manager Luke McCaul relocates to explore new opportunities in the marine and superyacht sectors. Of his legacy at Abell Point, Mr McCaul explains, “The last five years have been challenging and rewarding in equal measures. To have worked together with Paul (Darrouzet – marina owner) and the team at Abell Point to create a world-class destination marina has been an absolute pleasure. I am excited about the future and am extremely confident Kate will achieve the marina’s international business vision.”
Ms Purdie brings twenty years of management experience to the role, having served as Vice President of several multinational media corporations. Kate’s strength is her ability to drive international business, which aligns with Abell Point Marina’s recently amended vision to be a leading international marina.
Having recently moved to the Whitsundays, Kate originally fell in love with the Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef region when studying at Bond University on the Gold Coast in 1995.
Of her recent appointment, Kate explains, “Abell Point Marina is a paradise within paradise. With impeccable facilities, a vibrant atmosphere and world-class customer service in a location of unparalleled natural beauty, the marina is primed to attract a growing base of international clientele. I am proud to be joining Australia’s ‘Marina of the Year’ at such an exciting time.”
Along with key members of the Abell Point team, Ms Purdie will attend the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous on the Gold Coast on 20 April. Abell Point Marina are again sponsoring the event, this time under the banner of Superyacht Group Great Barrier Reef and in collaboration with three other first-class marina precincts located on the Great Barrier Reef.
On the strength of the Great Barrier Reef destination message going into this event, the Australian Superyacht Rendezvous will serve as a perfectly timed introduction for Ms Purdie, to the thriving superyacht industry in Australia.
Of Ms Purdie’s appointment, marina owner Paul Darrouzet says “We’re delighted that Kate has made this wonderful transition into the marine industry. Her wealth of international management experience and her global marketing background will be of great value to the Abell Point team as we transition into further developing our international marina vision. We look forward introducing Kate to our industry partners over the coming months at key industry events.”
With the AIMEX conference in May, followed by Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show and the action-packed events calendar of the upcoming cruising season in the Whitsundays, it is business as usual for the award-winning team at Abell Point Marina.
