MOVER & SHAKER OF THE YEAR
Sea Ray four years ago, he led Bayliner, played a role in the acquisition of the HeyDay brand, and helped form Brunswick’ s Venture Group, bringing together the Quicksilver, Uttern, Bayliner and HeyDay brands.
“ We brought together Venture Group as four value based brands to create synergies and dealer channel product portfolio development and operations in terms of manufacturing that helped us maintain a low cost point to maintain a good value proposition for the entry level side of the industry,” Yunger shared.
Today, he leads Sea Ray, an iconic brand that celebrated its 65th anniversary last year. For him, being a part of Sea Ray’ s milestone anniversary, and Bayliner’ s 60th anniversary prior, were more than commemorations. They were opportunities to take part in recognizing the people behind the brands that he was grateful for.
“ What made me feel proud is there were decades worth of customers, dealers and employees that have shaped the legacy of those two iconic brands in the industry,” Yunger explained.“ For me, it’ s a big accomplishment to recognize those folks of the past, recognize the current team and then shape the current team to carry it forward.”
Yunger leads Sea Ray’ s current team with approachability.“ Being an engaged individual with our employees, our dealer friends, customers ― I want to create a comfort zone,” he explained.
“ At the end of the day, titles define roles and responsibilities, not people. I’ ve been in businesses before where people get a little too hung up on their title, so they think their voice is louder. I don’ t want that. I don’ t have all the answers,” he said.“ I have a team for a reason, and I need to get the best out of them. And to get the best out of them, they have to be comfortable in the environment or conversation, whether it’ s on the plant floor, in a conference room, at a boat show or at a dealership.”
That philosophy drives his authentic approach to his team.“ I’ m not going to ask you to do something if you can’ t do it or if I haven’ t done it before,” Yunger said. He strives to help his team determine what to prioritize and what resources they need. He encourages personalized communication too.“ My encouragement is, have the conversation and then back it up with the keyboard.”
Much of Yunger’ s leadership style was shaped by mentors, starting with his father, who taught him the value of relationships.
“ As a young kid, I’ d be out at the plant with him and I’ d see him talk to people in the lamination department or in the assembly line as comfortably and easily as some of his sales managers or marketing people in the office,” Yunger said.
More recently, leaders like Aine Denari, president of Navico Group, and Brenna Preisser, president of Brunswick Boat Group Division, have shared perspectives that have helped Yunger grow.
“[ Aine ] gave me a different way of thinking about innovation,” he said.“ As we go forward, there’ s a tendency over time as a company to innovate for the sake of innovation, versus the real value proposition for the customer and what they are willing to pay for. I think that was insightful for me.”
Preisser has reminded him that people are motivated by different social needs and social rewards.“ There’ s a theme between the three of them,” he shared.“ It’ s all about people; continuing to learn how to work with people, reward people, pull the best out of them, and understand what trips their trigger on value proposition if they’ re on the customer end.”
His approach can be summed up in six guiding words he shares with his teams: curiosity, observation, anticipation, urgency, ownership and accountability.
“ With any opportunity or challenge, understand the‘ why’ through curiosity and observation. Develop the‘ what’ and the‘ when’ with anticipation and urgency. And drive the‘ how’ through ownership and accountability,” Yunger explained.“ That’ s how we bring the best thinking out of everybody on the team, versus me as a leader just telling them what to do.”
Growing up around the Sea Ray culture, Keith brings authenticity and passion to his role.
Keith Yunger was named president of Sea Ray in 2021.
Yunger is proud of the products that the teams he has worked with have brought to market over the years.“ At the end of the day, we’ re in it to create smiles and memories for people on the water,” he shared.“ We do that through our touch points, and our products are a huge touch point.”
But he is also aware of the challenges ahead for the boating industry, especially around diversity and inclusion.
8 september / october 2025 www. boatingindustry. com