About The Ward & McKenzie Group

Ward & McKenzie are professional and independent yacht consultants, surveyors, legal and project consultants providing a comprehensive service to yacht buyers and owners of yachts – large and small, commercial and private. Included are accredited experts who can give expert evidence in court.

Ward & McKenzie was established in 1997 by Sir Ian Collett and Clive Ward who has since retired.

The Ward & McKenzie head office is in Woodbridge Suffolk; we have 35 associate offices world wide. Note: All our surveyors are capable of undertaking the surveys outlined on our site. Their profiles in the countries they mostly operate from outline any specialisation or other points of interest.

Our staff at the Woodbridge base are:

Sir Ian Collett, Bt., – Director

Formerly practicing as a solicitor specialising in Marine matters. He merged his consultancy with Ward & McKenzie in 1997. A wealth of knowledge on yacht conveyancing, ownership structures, VAT and Project Co-ordination.

Chris Nicolle, – Director and Principal Surveyor

Prior to joining forces with Ward & McKenzie group as a Director and Principal in house surveyor, Chris worked for John Winterbotham and Partners where he specialised in large yachts working on projects up to 140m. He is now heading the Ward & McKenzie survey division and coordinating with our out port surveyors, undertaking in house surveys and yacht consultancy work.

Andrew Williamson – Project Planning and Management

Qualified in Yacht Manufacturing Management at Solent University, Southampton. Since 1998 he has worked on new build and refit projects with major yacht builders across Europe. His planning and management is methodical and systematic. He is backed up by a team of surveyors and engineers, to represent Owners, Banks or to advise Yards.

Liz Girling – Office Manager

Liz joined Ward & McKenzie 12 years ago. Over the years she has come to know the clients well, which means that she can give a personal service. As clients have developed over the years, she has helped them with the purchasing and running of larger yachts. Liz co-ordinates surveys, yacht management and registrations.

Ann Were – Accounts

Ann has a degree in Business Management and speaks fluent French. She runs the day to day accounts and bookkeeping. We have recently purchased yachts for a number of overseas clients, who have asked us to manage their yachts on a day to day basis. Ann runs the accounts for the yachts on behalf of the Captains.