Hydro Tec, an engineering and design firm operative in the luxury yachting sector, founded in 1995 by Engineer and Naval Architect Sergio Cutolo, with three offices in Italy and one in Hong Kong, announces a major phase of expansion with the appointment of two key figures to its board management.

Nicola Camuffo joins the company as Chief Technical Officer (CTO), while Michele Lauriero will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO). Both will work in close collaboration with the ownership, particularly with Sergio Cutolo, Presidentand Founderof Hydro Tec, to lead the company towards new achievements in innovation and growth. Their arrival in key corporate roles will further strengthen Hydro Tec’s expertise in yacht design and naval architecture and the implementation of new business processes, aimed at enhancing efficiency and synergy between the various operational areas.

The company’s recent growth has brought operational challenges, which Hydro Tec is addressing through an ambitious internal reorganization plan. With this move, Hydro Tec is taking a decisive step towards more structured and solid management, enabling the company to respond more swiftly and effectively to the needs of its clients and partners.

Nicola Camuffo, from Venice, 49 years old, has extensive experience in naval architecture and yacht design. His career began in 1996 after earning a degree in Naval Architecture from the University of Trieste, followed by studies in Hydrodynamics and Propulsion at the Marin Institute in the Netherlandsand anExecutive MBA from MIP Business School at Politecnico di Milano. He has held key positions at leading companies in the sector, both in Italy and abroad, including Azimut Benetti Group, Fincantieri, Oceanco(Netherlands), Perini Navi, Rolls-Royce Solutions (first in Italy, then in Germany), and most recently, as Chief Technical Officer at Tankoa Yachts. With his deep technical expertise—particularly acquired in shipyards—his strategic vision, and his managerial approach focused on the future, Camuffo will be responsible for leading and optimizing design processes, implementing the most advanced engineering technologies and methodologies to develop cutting-edge solutions. He will coordinate the technical office, which includes over 40 professionals across the company’s different locations, and enhance the synergy between the Engineering, Design, and Nesting departments.

Aged 50, with 25 years of experience in the maritime industry, Lauriero has developed extensive expertise in operational management and shipbuilding. His career began in the Italian Navy, where he served as Chief Engineer, and continued with responsibilities in designing and constructing advanced naval vessels, luxury yachts, and military or offshore support vessels.After attending the Italian Naval Academy in Livorno, he obtained a degree in Naval Engineering from the University of Genoaand, in 2000, embarked on a career that took him across Asia (Vietnam) and Europe, where he gained specific expertise in operational management and process optimization. He has coordinated technical teams, trained project engineers, and established dedicated structures for project management and supervision. Over the years, he has earned a Master’s in Military Ship Design, an ongoing MBA, and key professional certifications in Project Management. His past experiences include the Italian Navy, Fashion Yachts, Mediterranea di Navigazione, Group Piriou, VIMATEC Engineering, Ferretti Superyacht, and more recently, Cantiere Navale Vittoria. His responsibilities at Hydro Tec will include reorganizing and supervising internal operations, optimizing the interconnection with the Marine Nest and Yacht Engineering divisions, establishing a new Project Management department, and leading the training of Project Engineers.