Fabrice Maitre, Founder & COO
IMM’s founder and COO, Fabrice Maitre, has loved the sea, sailing and boats since he was a young boy. And in fact, his entire life has developed around that love. Although he grew up in Dijon, Fabrice’s family always had a sailing vessel, and sailing quickly became a passion for him. Ever an adventurer, Fabrice was a mere 18 for his first trans-oceanic deliveries. Fabrice’s commitment to the sea marked his formative years – attending the French national sailing school, then teaching, and skipping.
He became a captain and spent many years working on a variety of both sailing and motor yachts. By the early 1990s, Fabrice was ready to transition ashore. Looking for the path to a world on land, he quickly discovered yacht refit.
Until this day, Fabrice swears that yacht refit is the only thing he has found that provided a substitute for life at sea. This is the only activity where one’s principal focus is on the service for the Vessel with a defined delivery, as at sea.
Moving ashore, Fabrice was part of the establishment of the refit department of a major shipyard in La Ciotat, contributing to the development of one of the Mediterranean’s most active and respected technical hubs. It was here that his reputation for operational clarity, technical precision, and execution under pressure began to take shape.
In 2007, after having successfully delivered MY Tatoosh following a 6-month refit in La Rochelle, Fabrice was chosen to lead the ambitious refit of MY Octopus in St. Nazaire, France. It was at this moment that IMM (International Marine Management) was found. And it was this project that set the foundation for IMM’s philosophy and operating model: financial transparency, technical competence and rigorous project management.
Soon after IMM’s creation, an opportunity to develop yacht refit in the Caribbean presented itself: the same Port Director Fabrice had worked with in La Rochelle had moved to Guadeloupe and wanted to develop this industry in the Caribbean. And who better to call than Fabrice, who he had witnessed undertake the Tatoosh project a short time ago.
Given Fabrice’s belief that the industry must serve owners, and given that many yachts were cruising this area of the world without technical support, he, along with Norina Edelman, decided to take the gamble and open a facility in Guadeloupe. Fabrice’s commitment to provide service where it is needed has remained at the heart of IMM’s continued growth and expansion.
Nearly twenty years later, with more than 160 employees and four locations thefounding vision remains at the heart of IMM: serving vessels, serving Captains, serving crew.Over more than four decades in the industry, Fabrice has been involved in the management of many important superyacht refits. His leadership approach is defined by a rigorous and hands-on style, with a strong focus on precise planning to deliver appropriate technical solutions in the time allotted, leaving no room for excuses or uncertainty. Perhaps not always soft, Fabrice’s singular goal is delivery.
Reflecting on IMM’s continued evolution, Fabrice often frames the company’s expansion in personal terms:
“In many ways, this expansion has brought me full circle. France is where my career began, and the Tatoosh refit in La Rochelle was a significant step in both my career and superyacht refit generally. Establishing IMM’s presence here, with such a capable facility, allows us to bring our experience, standards, and approach back to a market we know deeply.”
At its core, IMM remains driven by the same ethos Fabrice established from the beginning: serving a vessel.
Refit is not simply about completing a scope of work, but about supporting the vessel, the crew, and the people who depend on it. Excellence comes from understanding the vessel’s needs, anticipating challenges, and delivering solutions with the care, accountability, and commitment expected from sailors, people who truly understand the sea.