Meet The Team
Hamble
Phil Dollin
Director
James Stone
Director
Phil Dollin | Director
Phil has spent his working life in the marine industry. Initially as a yacht cruising instructor in the Mediterranean for several years and later managing the UK sales for the Hanse Yachts range. An education in accountancy, economics and later, business administration has paved the way to a suitable skill set to run the Inspiration Marine Group today. Phil’s day to day role is managing the sales function of the group, striving to lead the industry in terms of service and innovation, alongside a mantra of always putting the customer first.
In his “day” a keen windsurfer and wakeboarder, the on water activities now tend to be more sedate including sailing and a surfing (when he finds himself in the right place). Away from the sea, cycling and walking the office bin inspector (Labrador Inka) are top of the list of things to do.
James Stone | Director
James has a background in Financial Services and spent a number of years with an accountancy firm on the South Coast along with a stint in London but eventually jumped ship to the marine industry to be able to combine his love of “bean counting” and boats. His day-to-day role includes overseeing the Finance Function and regulatory compliance of the Group as Finance Director, as well as managing the IT, HR, general business operations and growth opportunities of the group alongside Phil. James is a keen powerboater, looks after the Fjord and Ballistic RIB clients on the new boat side and is also on the committee of the British Marine Boat Retailers and Brokers Association.
As the legal owner of Scrumpy the Labrador (although you would not think so the way she ignores him), James enjoys getting out in the country around Hampshire and Dorset with her and his wife and is partial to a spot of fly fishing, playing the drums and ruining his weekends watching England play rugby.
Andy Cunningham
Group Brokerage Manager
Adam Sutton
Yacht Broker
Ian Thomas
Yacht Broker
Carly Loton
Assistant Accountant
ANDY CUNNINGHAM | GROUP BROKERAGE MANAGER
Andy started in the marine industry world with yacht deliveries back in 1977 before joining Brighton Marina at its infancy. He enjoyed his 21st birthday whilst a cruising Instructor at the National Sailing Centre before returning to education and the Yacht and Boatyard Management course. He then worked with Hunter Boats for 23 years, gaining a degree level award in Business Administration and becoming Sales Manager.
Joining Michael Schmidt & Partner as Brokerage Manager in 2007, Andy sits on the Committee of the Association of Yacht Brokers and Agents, leading their Introduction to Yacht Brokering course and being part of developing the new ABYA Academy promoting professionalism in Yacht Brokerage.
Away from work he enjoys a bit of social fixed seat rowing with Hamble River Rowing club based at the Jolly Sailor pub in Bursledon, the club is best described as a drinking club with a rowing problem. To relax Andy enjoys his family and dabbling in art with the Southampton Urban Sketchers, acrylic and water colour painting.
ADAM SUTTON | YACHT BROKER
Having started sailing on Dinghies in Yorkshire, Adam moved to Greece working on flotillas and later found himself in Turkey running an activity hotel and RYA Training Centre with 40 yachts under his care. Having sailed the Atlantic numerous times in everything from a 50' Deck Saloon up to a 60-meter Superyacht, Adam has many nautical miles under his belt. He then made a move into the Superyacht industry and was mainly based in the Caribbean and East Coast of the USA where he spent 3 years as a Chief Officer, holding Commercially-Endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore and Superyacht Engineering Qualifications.
Once Adam had achieved his goals, he moved back to the UK and settled immediately in Hamble where he can be found walking his dogs, trying to keep fit, or supporting the local Hamble Public House economy!
IAN THOMAS | YACHT BROKER
Ian discovered sailing as a child on the Norfolk Broads (a long time ago!), and fell hopelessly in love with what was to become a life long passion for all things nautical. He feels lucky to have lived in Hamble for many years and sailed in both the UK and Med on a fabulous variety of yachts both power and sail. Ian's other great passions are F1 and world architecture, both of which he and pursues on his travels.
CARLY LOTON | ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT
Carly joined the Michael Schmidt team from a local manufacturing company in Southampton where she had experience of a complex accounting function and working to ISO9001 accreditation. Since joining the Inspiration Marine Group, Carly has assisted James with managing the finance function of the Group including New Boat Sales and Brokerage Transactions. She can often be found chasing the staff for their expenses whilst ensuring the day to day accounting function of the Group runs smoothly.
In her spare time Carly enjoys spending time with her extended family and friends and has a fondness for exotic and weird flavoured Gins!
Inka
Bin Inspector
Scrumpy
Biscuit Monitor
INKA | BIN INSPECTOR
Inka is the furry child of Phil and his wife Alex, and is the self-appointed Bin Inspector for the Office. She can often be found under your desk looking for anything that may be eaten and is without question, better trained than Scrumpy. Will accept being in the same office as Scrumpy, but only because they both completely ignore each other. Inka is also the guardian of the office Duck and looks very pleased with herself when she finds it. Often wags her tail so hard we sometimes fear her bottom will fall off. Inka has successfully negotiated a feeding schedule which includes a totally unnecessary but wildly enjoyable lunch of biscuits – her proudest achievement to date.
SCRUMPY | BISCUIT MONITOR
Scrumpy is one of the regular Office Dogs and can often be found seeking love and affection from the other members of the team, especially if they are eating their lunch. She will often greet you with a waggy tail, unless you are dressed as a postman. Has an unhealthy obsession for cheese and is a big fan of snoozing. Not fussed at all about sailing if it conflicts with mealtime. Will studiously ignore other dogs, probably because she considers herself part of the higher echelons of human society.
Inverkip
James McPhail
Yacht Broker
Dorothy McDonagh
Office Manager
Jenny Urqhart
Brokerage Assistant
James McPhail | Yacht Broker
James is our resident Broker at Kip Marina and grew up sailing on the West Coast of Scotland with his family. After studying ‘Naval Architecture and Yacht Design’ at Strathclyde University James spent many years pursuing a career ‘on the water’ from teaching sailing and delivering yachts to working on the Mediterranean Super Yacht circuit. James loves matching our client’s boats with happy buyers and being part of the journey for both parties. Sailing his own Sigma 33 ‘Tattie Scone’ out of Kip Marina James is lucky enough to have one of the shortest ‘commutes’ between office and boat that we know of!
dorothy mcdonagh | office manager
Dorothy is a veritable powerhouse of organisation and plays a key role in keeping the gears running smoothly in our Scottish offices. If there is a ‘T’ needing crossed or an ‘I’ needing dotted then Dorothy will have it done before the letters themselves even notice anything amiss! Dorothy and her family recently took a stray cat into their home (“just for a few nights to get it out the cold”). Six months later ‘Jarvis’ now rules the roost and is living a pampered life of luxury (well played Jarvis).
Jenny UrquHart | brokerage assistant
Jenny is our uber Brokerage assistant at Kip Marina, as a long standing and multi-talented member of our team she brings a whole lot of experience and knowledge to the table. Jenny always has a smile on her face and is very much a ‘people person'… she loves getting to know our clients and helping them safely navigate the boat buying and selling waters. With a penchant for shopping and a passion for stylish jackets Jenny can sniff out a bargain from a mile off (how many jackets is too many jackets?).
RhU
Miles Stratton
Sales Manager, Scotland
Miles Stratton | Sales Manager, Scotland
Miles grew up around boats and boat building being the son of Nick Stratton of Nick Stratton Yachts Ltd. He joined the family business, selling Sigma Yachts and brokerage boats from their base at Rhu Marina. Some 30 years ago! Miles feels very privileged to have grown up through the hay days of yacht racing and still competes today, albeit less often. Water runs in his veins so when the wind's up you are just as likely to find him kite surfing, or when it’s not, cold water swimming in a Scottish loch.
