“At the time there were maybe five recruitment agencies in existence,” remembers Norma, “but I knew from my own experience – having been placed by some of them – that there was a lot we could do to improve the service and results for both crew and owners.”

For Norma that meant having professional recruiters who understood yachting and an online database that allowed her teams to work seamlessly together in sourcing and placing crew that properly matched each yacht’s needs.

“I’m no computer geek,” she laughs. “I remember telling my IT people when they first showed me how to use emails and later the internet, that neither would ever work in yachting! I was definitely wrong! But as far as recognizing early on the importance of a personalized online database was concerned – that was spot on. And once we developed it, the difference it made to the efficiency and speed with which our teams were able to source quality crew, reference-check them and then present them to clients was exponential.”

It was Norma’s far-reaching reputation and TCN’s much talked about success that soon came to the attention of Carlo Agliardi, newly appointed CEO of Fraser Yachts in 1993 and a man with a truly global vision for the company.

“We expanded Fraser Yachts with David Fraser from 1993,” recalls Carlo. “It was a very exciting time. Fraser was a major player in the US and we wanted to replicate that success across the rest of the world. But not solely as a brokerage house! Yachts were getting bigger then and we could see our clients and captains needed a lot more support and guidance after they bought their yachts. We wanted to offer the first ever global 360-degree, ‘headache-free’ solution for our owners. We started by creating a specialized in-house Yacht Management division back in 1995 and our next focus was crew recruitment.”

It wasn’t long before Norma and Carlo teamed up and The Crew Network (TCN), as it was then known, became a part of Fraser Yachts’ worldwide client solution.

“In professional crew placement, two essential elements must always be in place,” explains Carlo: far reaching and personalised relationships and, secondly, properly developed IT and software solutions to facilitate accurate and uptodate worldwide sourcing of quality crew. Many agencies had the former, most missed out on the latter. TCN had both and we worked for a number of years constantly improving it, aiming always for perfection.”

As with the rest of Fraser, TCN quickly expanded its offices around the world and a ground-breaking new online database, FraserLink, was written and created specifically for Fraser specialists to better serve their clients with increased data-driven solutions and knowhow

Today, TCN operates from four offices worldwide, has placed over 9,000 crew in the last 35 years and is proud to still count amongst its team, two of the original pioneers – Diane Leander, who worked closely with both Norma and Carlo on building the foundations that make the Fort Lauderdale office the success it is today, and Louise Cailbourdin, who co-founded TCN Antibes back in 1999.

“There were many people who helped us along the way,” reflects Norma. “Diane, Louise, Nelly Green and many others. TCN has always been ahead of the curve – on implementing online databases, software, using statistics and profiling for better candidate matching, business development, partnerships and new ways to better serve clients. Carlo, and the Managers and Directors of TCN and Fraser today, have taken that focus and expertise to another level. Fraser has never stopped adapting to change and new technology. It is never afraid to reinvent itself and evolve. I am so proud to see how my baby has grown and matured today.”

For Carlo Agliardi, his legacy is clear. “Being able to help our clients throughout their yachting journey at every step – at every moment – with knowledge, understanding and care across all Fraser divisions, around the world…that’s what I am most proud to have played a part in shaping and nurturing at Fraser and TCN.”

TCN has always been fueled and guided by data. For Norma, however, there may be just one statistic she wishes she had tracked throughout her time with TCN:

“When you are a crew agent, if you are good, you are the perfect matchmaker. You find the right candidate with the right profile and the right expertise for the right yacht. You can genuinely change people’s lives. So I have only one regret…that we never actually kept track of the number of relationships, marriages and new families that came about as a result of TCN. And there are a lot. I even met my own husband through TCN…how’s that for the gift that keeps on giving?”

• We will reply promptly and efficiently to your recruitment requests, taking the time to understand your precise requirements and sharing insight or guidance with you as appropriate
• We will undertake professional and regulated research, reference-checking and pre-filtering as necessary to provide you with the most suitable candidates based on the profile you require and the specifications you request
• We will provide you with those pre-filtered and selected candidates we feel are best suited to your requested position(s) and who we feel will best integrate into your existing crew dynamic based on our knowledge of your yacht and existing crew
• We will at all times protect the confidentiality of any and all sensitive information or data you may share with us in the pursuance of our role as your crew recruitment agency and will act in accordance with the provisions of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
• We will at all times be transparent in our work with you and will take all reasonable steps to avoid or alert you of any possible conflicts of interest that may prejudice yourself, a candidate or ourselves in any way
• We operate under a strict policy that no remuneration of any form is received or accepted by TCN from any candidates (actual or potential) in the pursuance of our role as your crew placement agency
• We will remain at your disposal for help, guidance or queries throughout and at any time after any recruitment and placement we provide for you

• We operate with an equal opportunities ethos, respecting the basic rights of each and every individual.
• We work with you in a transparent and open environment and exchange necessary information with you to help ensure you are able to make the most informed decisions possible regarding potential positions.
• We will remain in contact with you throughout your application for posts with us for which you are shortlisted. Should your application not be successful, we will aim to guide you as to any changes or improvements that can be made for future applications.  
• Our teams will be open and transparent with you throughout our dealings together. Our success in representing candidates is firmly based on our candidates sharing all and any information with us which they feel may have any bearing on any positions they wish to apply for via TCN

• Job search and recruitment through TCN is free of charge for all candidates in accordance with MLC 2006 provisions – and specifically Regulation 1.4 Recruitment and Placement.

Driven by the world’s longest serving full service brokerage house:

SALES & PURCHASE | NEW CONSTRUCTION & REFIT | YACHT MANAGEMENT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT | CHARTER MANAGEMENT | LUXURY YACHT VACATIONS