The people behind Ekokat
100+ years of yacht building, operations, and design.
European brand Ekokat Yachts International may be new but our team isn’t. The senior leadership and board bring 100+ years across yacht building, operations, and design, with each division led by global specialists. Ekokat has main bases on Montenegro, The Caribbean and the Maldives with Lake Como in Italy on the horizon soon. Yachts are constructed at our internationally established facility 2 hours from Hong Kong across the Macau Bridge in shipbuilding hub Guangzhou.
A Global Team With Over a Century of Proven Expertise
From yacht building and marine engineering to superyacht interior design, to management and charter operations, finance, and AI innovation, Ekokat brings together leaders with decades of hands-on experience across the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, the Maldives, and Asia.
Philip Dobson
CEO & Founder
The founder is an internationally experienced British entrepreneur of 35 years, with 30 years as a motor yacht owner and over 10,000 hours owner-operator, practical and hands-on experience with 50-60ft motor yachts in the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Asia.
Fundamentally a global award winning tourism developer, nominated to the United Nations UNWTO twice, Phil Dobson also specialises in marine tourism development and has advised for two country governments in the areas of infrastructure, operations, and global marketing. Also owning a motor yacht charter operation in the tropics he has also been a super and mega yacht handler and logistics arm. Phil heads global tourism development group of companies, one of which in joint venture with Lufthansa Solutions.
Phil’s other companies and projects spanning 35 years include the conceiving, designing and role out of a 21 super luxury villa resort in Asia, two 5 star fine dining restaurants and a helicopter charter company. He has consulted and contributed to country tourism master plans for the governments for which he was nominated to the UNWTO for.
Daraius Nawroze
COO & CFO
Daraius Nawroze is an international and highly experienced business strategist, risk analyst and Finance expert. Responsible for business operations across a USD 1b institutional client group of 19 companies.
Having worked for 30 years at HSBC Global Banks and markets at Chief Operating Officer and Board level, he is a true leader in developing and implementing business strategy.
Last based in Hong Kong, Daraius chaired Governance, Risk Management and Financial Crime Risk Management. Core Competencies include: Strategic Planning; Business Development; Growth; Audit, Risk Management; Operations Management; and Corporate Governance. Daraius was a member of the Investment Bank Risk Management Committee for Asia.
Dasha Moranova
Bespoke Super/Mega Yacht Interior Designer
As part of EkoKats status as Worlds 1st 60ft superyacht we offer all of our customers a personal interior designer service. It is natural we would seek out the best and most sought after super and even mega yacht interior designer. Only the best for the best!
Testament to EKoKat and its forward industry transformational and visionary thinking, Dasha Moranova Designs (DMD)- Interior Design is renowned for her work on some of the most exclusive super/megayachts in the world.
We are truly honoured to offer the services of Dasha for a truly bespoke EkoKat yacht. Customers are highly privileged to be able to create their own bespoke EkoKat interior and even flybridge. It is very apt that Dasha agreed to provide her super/mega yacht services to Ekokat despite its 19-20 metre size, given the synergies and visions shared between the two CEO’s, and EkoKat being the worlds 1st and only 60ft Superyacht with spaces on board of 30-40m entry level superyachts.
“Dasha Moranova Designs has set out to revolutionise the superyacht spa experience, with invisible technologies to create an AI-driven wellness project dubbed Senses.” Superyacht Times.
EkoKat appeared in BOAT International, also a regular distribution channel for Dasha and her incredible work on super and mega yachts, the largest being a whopping 164 metres ~ 538ft length overall.
“EkoKat is set to transform the sub superyacht sector with the key spaces on board of a small superyacht with dual functioning spaces and areas created for wellbeing, safety and massive price disruption”
Take a look at some of Dasha’s work HERE, in particular; 83 metre 270ft MY Senses, and 97m 318ft Lürssen yard mega yacht ‘MY Alice’; and then just imagine an EkoKat fully bespoke custom main deck by Dasha Moranova from mezzanine cockpit AFT to the Lounge on the Bow.
Philip Jones
Deputy CEO,
Specialist Marine Consultant & Advisor
Philip Jones, 25 year veteran in all things marine from over 20 yacht builds and actual marina development, joined EkoKat’s advisory board almost from day one of learning of the yacht and the project. As well as PJ consultancy Philip has held the role of director of all things marine with the Orascom group, responsible for many marina and property developments including the world famous El Ghouna desert/Red Sea marina complex. Based at Lustica Marina itself as Marine Director, EkoKats main base in the Mediterranean, Philip instantly saw the opportunity to join and support Ekokat.
Jake Cronk
Technical Director
Jake has decades of experience as a mechanical engineer of both boats and motor vehicles and was a valued part of the Mercedes F1/FE engineering racing team. Twisted Marine carry out the build-stage sign-offs of all Ekokat yachts and also provides the ongoing yacht warranty after delivery. Twisted Marine also own Scorpion RIBS, widely accepted as best RIBs in the world for their unique hull design.
Dejan Janković
Director of Yacht Management
Clients that buy our managed yachts can be assured of the highest level of professional guardiennage. Total hassle free yachting for our owners is always our goal. YAM’s Managing Director Dejan Janković, also sits on the executive board of directors of EkoKat.
AI & Tech Specialists
It’s only a matter of time before this innovation becomes standard in sub-superyacht categories as well. At Ekokat, we recognize that owners and guests have mixed views on the role of AI in leisure experiences. That’s why our philosophy is to provide optional and customizable levels of AI integration — enhancing usability, safety, and enjoyment without compromising human control or experience.
Armando Matijevich, CEO of SplitX, works directly with Ekokat across all fronts relating to AI system design, website development, and strategic branding. He also contributes to long-term planning as a valued shareholder and generalised strategic advisor.
Siani Oliver
Director of Yacht Operations
Siani Oliver joins us fresh off private and charter 50- 90 metre (294ft) luxury mega yachts, having run a stint of 6 years in charge of all things exterior on super/megayachts. Amongst other things, Bosun/Lead deckhand Siani, is here to ensure everything about EkoKat works and operates perfectly from a practicality perspective … this being of paramount importance to the brand. Siani also joins our EkoKat Yacht Management Team in a guidance and training/supervisory role, and being a bubbly, not-shy Australian also acts as highly enthusiastic Assistant Global Sales Director! When it comes to knowledge and explaining the practical side of the yacht amongst other things to clients, Ms Oliver is your girl!
Jacqueline James
Personal Interior Designer ~ Caribbean
As part of EkoKats superyacht personal interior designer service, Jacqueline James co-founder of the GFD Group Miami specialises in those looking for the Caribbean feel inside their yacht. An avid seafarer herself, Jacqueline is highly passionate and a joy to have aboard the team – also featuring on the front cover of New York Weekly recently as one of the top 20 women entrepreneurs to look out for in 2025. DFD have even given their professional flair with large scale luxury cruise liner fit outs.
Shareholders Include
The Factory
The Ekokat factory is an international shipyard and yacht builder and just launched (July 2025) the 6th power catamaran yacht in the fully proven ‘WaveRider’ hull design series.
Ekokat has factory slots for hull 7 onwards using the same 62ft WaveRider hull moulds.
Alex Ai ~ EkoKat Project Direct & System Engineer
Alex is an expert international ship builder, that graduated from Wuhan Marine & Shipbuilding Engineering University. He has been working in high-end yacht design & building for over 2 decades. His attention to detail and knowledge of expectations of the international market is unrivalled, and was the immediate and natural choice for EkoKat Yachts International.
Alex headed up the Bering Yachts factory when it was located in Zhanjiang China and before it moved to Turkey. He was Project Manager for the Bering 80′ and 65′ expedition yachts.
Current and Recent Yacht builds include:
62′ power-catamaran (WaveRider) launched this July 2025
68’power-catamaran (WaveRider), 5 units delivered
78’power-catamaran, delivered (See Ekokat sea trial video)
80’power catamaran (Wave Rider), currently under construction
72′ Flybridge motor yacht, delivered
78′ Flybridge motor yacht, currently under construction
127’FRP super yacht, delivered
100’FRP super yacht, delivered
60’ FRP trawler yacht, delivered
65’ Bering steel explorer yacht, delivered, as reviewed YouTube by Nautisyles
80’ Bering steel explorer yacht, delivered
56’ FRP MOANA power-catamaran delivered
50’ FRP ILIAD Power-catamaran, delivered.
55’ FRP power-catamaran, delivered
48’ FRP fishing-boat, delivered
55’ FRP power-catamaran, delivered
