Seonaid Thomas is a highly experienced Senior Retail Charter Broker, with over 20 years in the superyacht industry. A MYBA-qualified professional, she joined Burgess in 2005 and steadily advanced within the company, becoming a Team Leader for her department before being made a Partner in 2022. She takes a keen approach to the department’s strategic development and continually strives for excellence in the company’s service standards.
Raised in Monaco and schooled at St Andrews in Scotland, Seonaid is a talented linguist with a Masters in Russian Literature & Medieval French from Oxford University. Her early career in London as an Executive Search Consultant in the media and technology sectors equipped her with strong negotiation and business development skills. Later, she gained valuable experience in logistics and large-scale event management while overseeing corporate conferences and incentives in the south of France.
In her years at Burgess, Seonaid has made a significant impact by expanding the company’s client base across Europe, securing a high percentage of repeat bookings. Her expertise and results led her to collaborate with the Head of Burgess Australia to drive the growth of the Australasian market, where she brokered the three largest yacht charters in Australian history. Today, her client portfolio spans over 30 nationalities, a testament to her relationship-building abilities and global network.
Seonaid's approach to client service is personal and dynamic. 'I enjoy adapting to the diverse needs and styles of clients from all around the world,' she says. 'Most are very well-travelled, so the challenge is to create fresh, exciting experiences. Yachting offers that unique perspective for each destination, while the vessels themselves continually evolve.'
While her primary focus is the Caribbean and Mediterranean, Seonaid has arranged complex charters in remote locations such as Greenland, Indonesia, French Polynesia, the Maldives, the Norwegian Fjords, the Galapagos, and Antarctica.
'About 85% of my clients are multi-generational families,' she notes, 'but I also design specialised trips for scuba diving, heli-skiing, milestone celebrations, and major events like the F1 Grand Prix.' One of her greatest strengths lies in matching clients with the perfect yacht. 'Understanding a client’s vision of their trip and aligning it with the right yacht and crew is essential,' she says. 'That's where the magic happens.'
