Giovanni Costantino, founder and CEO of The Italian Sea Group, one of the top companies in luxury boating, is our guest for this episode of our podcast, Giro di Boa.

Giovanni Costantino’s passion began when he was just a child. “I was born in Taranto – he recalls – 500 metres from the beach. After my mother, the water is the first thing I remember. When, after a series of coincidences, this adventure presented itself, I decided to take it up, because of that passion for the sea.”

In 2009, Giovanni Costantino decided to purchase Technomar, an Italian yachting brand. This was the first step which led him to building a great dream, now The Italian Sea Group.

“Big dreams should never end,” writes the CEO on the Group’s website. The Italian Sea Group started with Giovanni Costantino’s vision, passion and desire. “From a desire – he shares – to create positive projects, that can lead to a balanced life for all those involved in and around it.” “Living well”, which for Giovanni Costantino represents a balance between personal passion, professionalism and family.

Giovanni Costantino: “Correctness, skill, desire: this is how a dream is built.”

We asked Giovanni Costantino for advice for any young people wanting to follow in his footsteps. We discovered that the first step, especially at the very beginning of their career, is a desire for growth and a willingness to make sacrifices. “The first phase – Costantino explains – requires the most investment, If that investment is made skilfully, with a desire to work, professionalism and, above all, human and professional correctness towards co-workers, friends and the project, then this phase can lead to that balance we spoke about earlier. Not an easy goal to achieve, and like all difficult objectives, there is a need for sacrifice.”

From Tecnomar to being Listed: The Italian Sea Group’s long journey

Giovanni Costantino took his first steps into the boating industry with Tecnomar. From there, with “small but fast steps – notes the CEO – we became an internationally recognised company. We were able to achieve this thanks to a strategic vision which went against the grain, but was clear in my mind. I followed it by making sacrifices. And a lot of hard work. With unlimited determination.”

A project that Costantino had in his mind from the beginning, but, as he shares, over time it changed and developed. Of all of his achievements, one of his most satisfying was when the Italian Sea Group was listed on the Stock Market, in 2021. “Being listed in the stock market – he notes – is the financial reward for the trust that investors have in you. Seeing your stock grow is like a student bringing home a report card with top marks.”

From sustainability to partnering with Armani

For The Italian Sea Group, sustainability is an ample and circular concept, that starts with respecting the environment, but also means “respecting the management of the entire company,” explains Costantino. From the workplace to resources, respecting women, gender equality, through to creating opportunities for young people.”

The Italian Sea Group’s partnership with Giorgio Armani is well known. We remember, for example, the great presentation event for the Admiral, a 72-metre megayacht developed by Giorgio Armani and his time in partnership with the Admiral Style Centre.  “This was – shares the CEO of The Italian Sea Group – an opportunity that came by and we took it. A happy coincidence, that excited me, not just as an entrepreneur, but also because its was, and still is, an excellent exchange for the company. It is exciting to see how a man like him is present in his company and focused on every detail, just like he was at the beginning. A man who still today, takes nothing for granted and continues to aspire to perfection in every detail.”

Listen to the full interview on the podcast.

The “Giro di Boa” podcast is broadcast with the support of Pantaneius, a leading European yacht insurance company.