Mastercraft Boat Holdings, an American manufacturer of luxury high-performance boats, has appointed Mike O’Connell as president of its pontoon segment, in addition to his role as senior vice president of operational excellence.

O’Connell replaces George Steinbarger, who joined Mastercraft in 2018 and has now left the company. Specific reasons for his exit were not disclosed in the press announcement published on 24 February 2025.

O’Connell has nearly 40 years of experience in the marine industry. He joined Mastercraft in 2023 as president of Aviara Boats, and his previous roles include president of Godfrey pontoons and Hurricane deck boats, as well as leadership roles at Brunswick, Genmar and Yamaha.

“At Mastercraft, we pride ourselves on the depth and talent of our management team and we are pleased to have an executive of Mike’s calibre on deck to lead our pontoon segment,” says Brad Nelson, chief executive officer of Mastercraft. “As we continue to navigate a challenged retail environment, Mike will play a critical role in positioning our Crest and Balise brands to capitalise on consumer interest as we enter the critical summer selling season. I would also like to thank George Steinbarger for his service to the company and many contributions during his time here. We wish him well.”

“Crest is a pontoon industry leader, and our newly launched Balise product line brings high potential. This is a very dynamic time for the industry, and I am honoured to lead our pontoon segment as we position our brands for long-term growth and success,” says O’Connell. “I am energised and looking forward to working with the team to execute on our go-to-market initiatives in the upcoming summer selling season.”

Mastercraft is headquartered in Vonore, Tennessee, and designs, manufactures and markets recreational powerboats under its three wholly owned brands: Mastercraft, Crest and Balise.