Educated in the North of France, he became a textile engineer and worked for the Courtaulds group. In the late 1970s, he took over a chandlery business in Lorient. He joined Plastimo in 1982 as purchasing manager and worked his way up as export manager, marketing manager and finally president in 1989.

Walking in predecessor John Ambruster’s footsteps, Mr Le Saffre was the architect of Plastimo’s European subsidiaries network in the early 90s, when the company was owned by Johnson Worldwide Associates (now Johnson Outdoors, JOUT).

Mr Le Saffre and business partner Patrick Frasquet initiated a first LBO in 1997, then a second in 1999 and a third LBO in 2004 with Duke Street Capital, the current majority shareholder of the Navimo Group.

In the early 2000s, Mr Le Saffre piloted a series of acquisitions (Nuova Rade, DNS, Accastillage Bernard, XM Yachting, Max Power and Goïot) and created the Navimo corporate structure in 2003 to federate these brands. In the process, the Navimo Group grew considerably and acquired its current status of first European equipment manufacturer.

Mr Le Saffre retired in 2006. A real character in the boating equipment business, he will be remembered as a man with a quick wit and ready smile, an acute flair for business combined with a great sense of relationship. His vibrant personality, inquiring mind and extremely endearing manner have turned many business contacts into long lasting friends. ‘Use your heart as a compass’, was one of his favourite rules in business conduct.

Naturally amiable and curious about people, Mr Le Saffre also enjoyed his mission as honorary British consul in Brittany for the last 10 years.

Jean-Marie Paepegaey, president of the Navimo Group and also president of Plastimo, offers his deepest sympathy to wife Catherine Le Saffre and three daughters, as well as to Mr Le Saffre’s former colleagues and numerous friends in the boating trade.