Once regarded as the “Wild West”, the refit sector has been transformed over the past decades into a highly professional and structured industry. It is a change Rob Papworth has witnessed first-hand during his long career at MB92 La Ciotat on the French Riviera, part of the MB92 Group.

Papworth was appointed CEO of the shipyard in December 2024, having joined the company more than 20 years ago, when it was known as Compositeworks, and remained through its acquisition by MB92 in 2017.

SuperYacht Times spoke with Papworth about his career progression at MB92 La Ciotat, the evolution of the refit sector, the shipyard’s relationship with its sister facility in Barcelona, and future developments shaping the refit industry.

MB92 La Ciotat CEO discusses operational growth and the evolving refit sector