Dieter Gust remembered for shaping CNB and Lagoon during three decades at Beneteau

Perhaps best known for founding Construction Navale Bordeaux and helping transform Lagoon into one of the world’s leading multihull brands, Dieter Gust has died following a ten-year battle with illness, prompting tributes from across Groupe Beneteau. He’s being cited not only as a great sailor, but also as a visionary entrepreneur and hands-on leader, and as one of the notable figures in the boating world.

Gust died on 8 July, after a courageous ten-year battle with illness.

Groupe Beneteau’s extending its most sincere thoughts to his wife, his two daughters, his loved ones, and all the employees who knew him and worked alongside him over the years.

Born in Germany, Gust had a singular path. A former goalkeeper for the German Olympic team and then a professional football player, he later became a ski and windsurfing instructor in the south of France before fully dedicating himself to the sea. Sailor, welder in a large sailing yacht shipyard, skipper of large yachts and pioneer of crewed charter, he founded Construction Navale Bordeaux (CNB) in 1987. With the construction of Mariccha II, he gave rise to a company recognised for its excellence and spirit of innovation.

With founding CNB alongside Olivier Lafourcade, Gust left a lasting mark on the history of shipbuilding, CNB and Groupe Beneteau.

Building CNB into a world-renowned yacht builder

In 1992, he joined Groupe Beneteau, where he first served as chief executive officer of CNB and later as chief executive officer of Groupe Beneteau’s Boat Division until 2019. Through his industrial vision, market knowledge and strong development mindset, he helped bring emblematic projects to life and supported the sustainable growth of several of the group’s key businesses.

Among his most significant achievements, Gust notably created CNB Yacht, dedicated to the construction of large aluminium sailing yachts, and played a decisive role in the development of Lagoon multihulls, whose international success reflects his ability to imagine boats that left a lasting mark on their era.

“Today, CNB has lost its founder. Dieter profoundly shaped our history and passed on far more than a vision of shipbuilding: a passion, high standards, and trust in the women and men who bring this shipyard to life every day. We owe him a great deal and will continue to keep his spirit alive within CNB,” says Clément Himily, chief executive officer, sailing business unit.

“On behalf of Groupe Beneteau, we respectfully and gratefully honor the memory of Dieter Gust and all that he brought to our group,” says Bruno Thivoyon, chairman of the management board, Groupe Beneteau.