Polaris appoints new president of Marine

US boat and powersports equipment manufacturer Polaris has appointed Ben Duke as president of the marine division.

Duke succeeds Jake Vogel, who is transitioning to a strategic advisory role at the company. Both Duke and Vogel will report to Polaris CEO Mike Speetzen.

“The Vogel family’s immense impact on the pontoon and boating industry are evident by the powerhouse Bennington, Godfrey and Hurricane brands,” says Speetzen. “Since Polaris acquired the businesses in 2018, Jake has overseen their continued success and we are deeply appreciative of his contributions, including growing revenue over the past three-year period and setting the brands on a path for continued long-term success.

“We’re excited to have Ben take the baton from Jake and lead us into the next chapter for Polaris Marine.”

An experienced leader within the marine industry, Duke joined Polaris in 2019 as general manager for the Godfrey and Hurricane Boats businesses. Prior to this role, he served as president of the Job Site and Standby Power Group at Briggs and Stratton, and spent nearly a decade at Mercury Marine in various product and marketing management positions.

“It is a privilege to take on this leadership role, building on the incredible legacy that Jake and his family have created with these brands and advancing Polaris’ Marine business,” says Duke. “With Polaris’ top-notch portfolio of boat brands and the skill of the Polaris Marine team I’ve worked alongside these last several years, I’m energized by what lays ahead for this business and the growth and innovation we will deliver for the benefit of our customers and dealers.”