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The Italian Sea Group’s young CCO Gianmaria Costantino brings a shot of new life to the boatbuilding giant.
The Italian Sea Group is a juggernaut in the world of boatbuilding. Its brands span the gamut of the yachting world with Admiral, Tecnomar, Perini Navi, and Picchiotti all under its wing, among others. When it comes to global presence there are few names that can top it. Managing a company of this size and scope is no easy task for anyone—and that goes double when you are only 25 years old. But Gianmaria Costantino, who took over as the brand’s CCO late last year, was born for the role—quite literally, his father Giovanni founded the company. He brings with him a sense of presence and gravitas far exceeding his years, and has a deep understanding of both The Italian Sea Group’s business and the yachting industry at large thanks to his deep familial connections in this rarefied space.
We sat down with Costantino to talk about all things Italian boatbuilding (something near and dear to our heart here at IYG). We spoke about Costantino’s vision for the brand, and what sets The Italian Sea Group apart, and we also dialed in on the Admiral Armani 72M, also known as the Giorgio Armani superyacht, which debuted last May and which will be a star of the upcoming 2025 Monaco Yacht Show.
A Legacy of Leadership Reimagined at TISG
IYG: Growing up within The Italian Sea Group, how did your perspective on the business evolve over time?”
I entered into ISG recently, in September 2024, but I have always been involved with the company because I have been a member of the board of directors since 2022. So I have seen the company grow. What I am seeing is the transition to a new generation. It’s good for me because I am pretty young, and I can communicate with a new generation of owners. We have a growing number of owners who want to do the deal in crypto currency. And this is something that we are absolutely fine to do because times change and as a company we have to adapt. We are seeing a new generation get into yachting and I think that’s great.
Gianmaria Costantino
Chief Commercial Officer
The Italian Sea Group
IYG: Your father is the founder and CEO of The Italian Sea Group. What were the most important lessons you learned from your father about leading a company of this scale and prestige?
He taught me that every detail is important. Even the little things, they can become bigger and bigger. You need to be focused and on track every single moment, and by doing that you end up creating incredible things.
Gianmaria Costantino
Chief Commercial Officer
The Italian Sea Group
Giovanni Costantino
Chief Executive Officer, The Italian Sea Group
Admiral’s Bold Pivot: Embracing Semi-Custom and Shaping What’s Next
IYG: How has Admiral, as a cornerstone of The Italian Sea Group’s portfolio, shaped your vision for the group’s legacy, and what role do you see it playing in the company’s future?
Gianmaria Costantino: “Admiral has always been the flagship brand of The Italian Sea Group. Admiral has the greatest variety of yachts, semi- and full-custom. I want people to know that, because they might not. Admiral has historically been focused on full-custom yachts, but now we are pushing semi-custom builds in the 40- to 80-meter range. It’s a challenge to make a course change like this but it’s a welcome challenge for everyone at the company.”
IYG: Are there any recent or upcoming models that represent a new design direction for TISG?
Gianmaria Costantino: “Regarding innovation, especially in terms of design we are always trying to push the limit of what is possible. This is one of our strengths and it is greatly aided by the fact that we have our own internal research & development department, our own engineers, etc. We are always developing new projects. Currently we have a 30-meter Lamborghini boat in the works, and the fact that we have designers and architects within the company helps us work very quickly in this regard.”
Building Yachts Around an Owner’s Vision
IYG: What role does client collaboration play in shaping a yacht’s final design?
Gianmaria Costantino: “It is really important. We have always been focused on these full-custom projects and when we do client meetings our designers and architects participate. We want to all work together to build a clients’ dream. And we can accommodate nearly anything they want. This is possible not only because we have our own research & development department, but we try to keep as much of the build inhouse as possible, which allows us greater flexibility in giving our clients exactly what they want.”
Render: The Admiral 40 project, developed in collaboration between the Monaco-based studio The A Group
Behind the Scenes of the Armani Superyacht
IYG: To that end, I’d like to talk about Project Metamorphosis, designed by Giorgio Armani. She has generated global attention. How did this partnership come about, and how do you see this project elevating Admiral’s reputation within the superyacht industry?
Gianmaria Costantino: “This project was born a few years ago and it was an idea of my father. After the collaboration with Lamborghini, we wanted to do something else that was unusual and he proposed the idea to Giorgio Armani and he really liked the idea of designing a yacht. He had done interiors before, but this is his first exterior design ever. He has always been a passionate yachtsman so this was exciting for him. Furniture is done by Armani Casa and he did the interiors as well. As we say in Italy, it is the closing of a circle.”
IYG: Can you share any behind-the-scenes insights or anecdotes from the development process of the Admiral x Armani superyacht?
Gianmaria Costantino: “The project was a real challenge, and I mean that in the most positive way. Giorgio drew it by pencil. Can you imagine? That choice did not make our job extremely easy, I wouldn’t say, but we got the job done. As with all successful collaborations, it’s all about thorough communication between all parties involved. We talked with each other a lot!”
Gianmaria Costantino on the Future of Yachting
IYG: I can’t wait to see the end result in Monaco. I want to switch gears to round out our discussion today. What excites you most about the future of yachting?
Gianmaria Costantino: “Yachting is something that continuously changes. You have to propose something to the market that’s new always. It’s like automotives where they always need to propose something new—same here. It’s so competitive, and so dynamic, you just keep pushing and pushing and keep coming up with products with exciting layouts, more efficient propulsion, whatever the case may be. But the focus is always, always on moving forward.”
Join The Italian Yacht Group at Monaco for a Closer Look at What’s Next
If you are heading to the Monaco Yacht Show this year and want to check out any of the boats The Italian Sea Group will have on display, including what is destined to be a showstopper—the Admiral Armani 72M—be sure to reach out to the Italian Yacht Group. With our deep connections to the Italian boatbuilding industry there is no better group of experts to guide you along the docks checking out the very best that Monaco has to offer.
