David Taylor has been appointed as chief executive officer of American Sailing and its affiliated platforms, North U, American Sailing Vacations and American Boating.
Taylor brings more than 30 years of experience in scaling organisations to the role, including education and training, certifications and memberships.
He is also a product of ASA’s own instruction.
The search for a new CEO was conducted following the unexpected death of Jonathan Payne in November 2025 who had led American Sailing since 2022.
“Dave brings something rare to this role, the credibility of a lifelong sailor and boater who became certified through the ASA educational system, paired with the commercial experience to sustain and grow what we’ve built,” said Peter Isler, two-time America’s Cup winner and board chairman of American Sailing.
“This is a stewardship assignment at a moment when continuity and long-term growth must go hand in hand and we believe Dave is the right person to lead us forward.”
Career pinnacle
Taylor arrives most recently from LoadSpring Solutions, where he served as chief commercial officer.
Prior to that, he served as president and chief revenue officer of RightEye and as chief revenue officer of Kajeet.
His career also includes senior executive roles at training and certification companies and consulting with professional associations on membership growth, publication revenue, and event performance.
“I consider this opportunity the pinnacle of my career,” he said.
“American Sailing changed how I think about sailing and about what structured education can do for someone who believes they already know enough.
“My mission is to protect what this organisation has built, the foundation, the standards, and the educational system, extend it to the next generation of sailors, and make sure every affiliated sailing school has what it needs to grow.”
Sailing journey
Cindy Shabes, co-founder and president of American Sailing, says Taylor’s combination of credentials stood apart in the search.
“We needed someone who understood the business and understood the sailor. David is both.
“That alignment with our mission matters as much to us as his executive track record.”
Taylor holds five ASA certifications, an International Proficiency Certificate and a U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s License.
His sailing journey began in 2019 when he joined American Sailing as a student.
He has since logged thousands of miles and spends his time aboard his Beneteau 41, Marley.
American Sailing provides a range of sailing education courses.
