Doyle Sails Names Emma Hendy Chief Executive
The sailmaker has promoted its Chief Commercial Officer to lead the company while adding a new finance chief and leadership team structure.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People
Doyle Sails has appointed Emma Hendy as Chief Executive Officer, moving her up from Chief Commercial Officer, and named James Sandall as Chief Financial Officer and Leadership Team member. The announcement, made November 3, 2026, also sets out a new leadership structure for the company.
Why it matters
The changes place sales and commercial activity under the same leader who now runs the business, and establish a clearer division of responsibilities across the company's global operations. Hendy continues to lead commercial activities while overseeing entities and the licensed loft network.
Doyle Sails operates 50 licensed lofts worldwide, and CEO Emma Hendy has spent ten years with the company since joining as a Project Manager in 2016. The announcement does not address how the leadership changes will affect loft network performance or revenue.
The players
Emma Hendy
Emma Hendy is Doyle Sails' newly appointed Chief Executive Officer, having risen through operations and commercial roles since joining the sailmaker in 2016.
Mike Sanderson
Mike Sanderson is President of Doyle Sails and, with David Duff, co-owns the company after taking ownership in 2017.
James Sandall
James Sandall is Doyle Sails' Chief Financial Officer and a member of its Leadership Team in the new structure.
David Duff
David Duff is Vice President of Doyle Sails and leads customer and market-facing engagement under the new structure.
Marko Kuunarpuu
Marko Kuunarpuu is Chief Operating Officer of Doyle Sails and helps run the business under the new leadership team.
The details
Hendy moves from Chief Commercial Officer to CEO and continues to lead commercial activities. Mike Sanderson, President, and David Duff, Vice President, will lead customer and market-facing engagement, while Hendy, Marko Kuunarpuu as Chief Operating Officer, and James Sandall as Chief Financial Officer will run the business.
Timeline
2016: Emma Hendy joins Doyle Sails as a Project Manager.
2017: Mike Sanderson, Richard Bouzaid and David Duff take ownership of Doyle Sails.
2019: Emma Hendy becomes Chief Operating Officer.
2022: Emma Hendy becomes Chief Commercial Officer.
November 3, 2026: Doyle Sails announces Hendy as CEO and the new Leadership Team structure.
People Moves
The 2026 restructuring follows the 2017 ownership transfer in which Mike Sanderson, Richard Bouzaid and David Duff took control of Doyle Sails. Promoting an internal executive to CEO continues that company's pattern of leadership drawn from its own ranks.
Customers of Doyle Sails' licensed lofts will continue to work with the same commercial leadership, now under a Chief Executive who oversees sales directly. The restructuring does not announce changes to pricing or product availability.
The takeaway
Leadership changes that place commercial and executive responsibilities under one person can streamline decision-making, but outcomes depend on how the new structure is executed. Readers tracking the company should watch for further announcements on strategy.
Further reading
Explore more executive appointments and leadership changes in our People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sail-world.
