If there was such a thing as an ideal background and career path needed to succeed as a charter broker, it would look very much like William Molloy’s. With a great grandfather who imported and exported champagne and other luxury goods, and grandparents and parents who owned restaurants and hotels, William grew up immersed in the luxury hospitality industry.
Having started his career working in his family’s fine-dining restaurant, William later completed a degree in maritime studies at Southampton University. His career path eventually led him to work on superyachts for 10 years, running the interior on five different yachts ranging from 44 to 64 metres and cruising all corners of the Mediterranean and around the world. William now enjoys spending time with his family exploring the Mediterranean on sailing yachts, as well as regularly participating in regattas such as Les Voiles d’Antibes and Les Voiles de St-Tropez.
“Everything I have ever done has perfectly qualified me to give good advice to clients about what type of boat to charter and the best locations to visit by boat,” reflects William. Since transitioning to his first shoreside role as retail charter broker in 2007, William has overseen over 200 MYBA charter deals, as well as sold six yachts, a new build project and a berth.
William’s extensive background in hospitality and yachting has certainly shaped his approach to charter brokerage. “Because I was born into the hospitality industry, making people happy is what comes naturally to me,” he explains. “When it comes to charter, I’ve learnt that you can never know your clients well enough; you need to figure out exactly what they want, what makes them happy and pair them with, not just the right yacht – because most yachts on the MYBA system are good yachts – but with the right crew and the right location.”
When it comes to charter, I’ve learnt that you can never know your clients well enough
This client-first mindset is epitomised by one of William’s most memorable moments from working aboard superyachts. While he was crew on board S/Y Juliet, he remembers offering to do ‘jellyfish patrol’ for one particular charter client, which involved snorkelling in front of them on their daily swim around the yacht and wafting any jellyfish out of the way. These clients transpired to become William’s most loyal charter clients for 10 years.
Joining Moravia Yachting as head of charter and senior broker in 2021, William is now able to share his experiences and expertise with the burgeoning charter team. “Moravia Yachting is powered by Hill Robinson and it really is a team environment where everyone is nurtured and supported to achieve the best they can,” he adds.
With a love for exploring the Mediterranean, William is well placed to advise clients on the best cruising destinations. His personal favourite is Italy, particularly the Amalfi Coast and the Aeolian islands, citing the region’s volcanoes, crystal clear waters, laidback beach restaurants and Italian hospitality as the highlights. And his bucket-list destination for cruising with his family? “Southeast Asia is the one place I never got to go while working on yachts and I’d love to explore all the thousands of islands it has to offer.”
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