NEW LEADERSHIP STEPS INTO PIVOTAL ROLES AT NORTH SAILS UK
Dave Lenz and Jeremy Smart appointed to drive continued growth and success
Beginning in 2026, North Sails will have two hugely experienced leaders at the helm of the Gosport loft in the UK. Dave Lenz and Jeremy Smart are furthering their decades-long relationship with the world’s leading sailmaker by stepping into the role of General Manager and Sales Manager, respectively.
The natural progression to senior management for two highly respected names in British sailing comes in the wake of the departure of Ian Walker joining Athena Racing. Recognized for its strength in production, design and sales, the North Sails, UK team looks after one of the most important and dynamic territories in the North worldwide network.
Commenting on the new leadership, North Sails Global Director Sales and Service, Thomas Normand, noted: “The UK has seen fantastic and sustained growth over many years and continues to hold massive potential. I can’t think of two better people to steer North Sails UK to further success than Dave Lenz and Jeremy Smart. They know our brand and our values inside out, and the UK sailing community will benefit from their unrivaled professionalism, dedication and knowledge.
📸: Dave has spent over 25 years working as a sail designer with nearly 20 of those at North Sails. For the past decade, he’s been in a design leadership role across the UK and Europe, and most recently, in a global capacity. He has also served as a sail designer and sailor with numerous high-profile teams and has a solid collection of National, European, and World titles to his name.
“We wish Ian all the best in the America’s Cup - he has done a remarkable job over the last three and a half years, for which we thank him - and I have no doubt he will remain a close friend of North Sails. I’m confident he agrees that North Sails, UK is in great hands now with Dave and Jeremy.”
The UK is one of the most important sailing markets in the world and represents a unique hub of manufacturing, service, and design talent. The flagship loft in Gosport opened in 2015 and features 1,950m² / 21,000 sq ft raised finished floor, as well as a 110m long main loft. The loft, which includes state-of-the-art equipment and is staffed by a best-in-class team of experts, remains a vital production site that produces large custom and One Design sails onsite alongside service and sail care.
The natural transition to elevate Dave and Jeremy into critical leadership roles will provide a firm and stable base to build, evolve and grow the UK business. Dave Lenz has been with North Sails for nearly 20 years, working as a sail designer, and taking on design leadership roles for multiple projects in the UK, Europe and beyond. This has seen him directly involved as both a sail designer and sailor with numerous high-profile teams, and he boasts a number of National, European and World titles to his name.
Dave Lenz commented: “The North Sails ethos is built around consistently evolving, constantly improving and always pushing ourselves - this is across the board, whether we’re talking about products, technology or customer service. This is fundamental to my outlook, to be the best in everything we do and always try to do it better.
“Sailing in the UK is very strong right now so it’s an exciting time to take the helm. We want to build on our success to date and that means continuing to attract the best people to complement our industry-leading products and technologies, ultimately supporting our staff and our clients to excel.”
Jeremy Smart’s impact on building and expanding sales across the UK spans more than a quarter of a century with North Sails. During these 25 years he has developed a deep expertise of North Sails premier products and provided top quality sails and service to racing and cruising clients. The Sales Manager role is a new position in the UK, created after the success of establishing similar roles in North Sails leadership teams in France and other markets.
📸: Jeremy Smart brings over two decades of experience on the front lines with our clients in this key market. During his career, he has developed deep expertise in North Sails' products and has successfully worked across multiple key segments, both locally and internationally, to provide top-quality sails and service.
Jeremy Smart commented: “I have been involved with managing the sales team and mentoring the next generation for a number of years, so this transition feels seamless for me. North Sails is committed to offering the best products and the best possible customer experience.
“I’m looking forward to what our UK team can achieve over the coming years. My time at North Sails has been filled with new challenges and different opportunities, you never stand still, and you get to meet some incredible people along the way - it’s what keeps me motivated and excited about the future."
Britain’s strength on the water comes not just from Olympic results and recent America’s Cup performances, but from a legacy of iconic events like the Admiral’s Cup—returning in 2027. With renewed British energy in the America’s Cup and Cowes Week celebrating its 200th anniversary, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of promise, and world-class sailing.
Dave and Jeremy move into their new roles from January 1st, 2026. With this natural transition, built on their 45-year company heritage and vision for the future, one of the most important hubs for North Sails looks set to remain a market leader in design services, sales production and customer experience.
