Founded in 2013 by CEO Tim Johnson, TJB Super Yachts specialises in luxury yacht charters and yacht sales. With past army experience in the Honourable Artillery Company and a career in yacht broking, Tim’s vision was to build the UK's first truly independent yacht brokerage. TJB leverages advanced technology and market intelligence but with a highly personalised approach. With a wealth of yachting experience, many of TJB's yacht brokers started their careers on the water, so are trusted, knowledgeable and give expert, impartial advice. TJB Super Yachts is driven by pure passion for yachting and uncompromising quality to exceptional service.
Below, we speak to Johnson to learn more about TJB Super Yachts, our latest Walpole member...
Walpole: Tell us about the history of your brand...
Tim Johnson: I am the son of a naval Commodore. My father served 35 years in the Royal Navy, and my grandfather was a Captain at Dunkirk. Yachting and the value of leadership is in my DNA. After serving in the British Army with tours in Afghanistan, I worked for some of the UK’s largest yacht brokerages. What I found was missing in the industry was a truly impartial brokerage - where the client’s needs always come first. I didn’t want to be swayed by owners or management companies. I knew if I could build a small team of truly customer-centric brokers that shared my vision, TJB could offer unparalleled personal service.
I founded TJB Super Yachts in 2013. We will be celebrating our 10th anniversary this year, and I am proud of what we have achieved in this last decade. I now have 32 energetic and motivated people in the team. We’re not trying to be the biggest, we will always be a boutique brokerage, but we strive for nothing less than excellence.
What is your brand best known for?
We’re best known for three things: client service, innovative thinking and being truly independent. Our team is energetic, dynamic and agile - we’re not afraid to find a new way of thinking if it helps our clients explore the world differently. We are trusted because our clients know our brokers will go above and beyond to create remarkable yachting experiences.
What has been a significant achievement in your company’s timeline?
In the last few years, our US client base has grown exponentially, which led to our strategic expansion into the US market in 2022. To establish a strong foothold, we carefully selected a prime location in Palm Beach and appointed Nicole Haboush to lead our stellar US team. In addition to our US expansion, we have opened offices across Europe and beyond, with our expert team now operating in eight countries. These expansions marked the next phase of our evolution as a top-tier international superyacht company, enabling us to better serve our global clients and strengthen our position as a leading yacht brokerage.
Why do you love the brand?
Not a day goes by when I don't feel proud of our team: they are the people who make the brand what it is. I see how hard they work to deliver an experience of a lifetime for our clients. The energy in our office is palpable because the passion is genuine. TJB is a brand that stands for courage and commitment; it’s a characteristic all our team members have.
Why does your brand represent the very best in British luxury?
Our HQ is in London, and it always will be. Our team are from multicultural backgrounds – we are an international team representing Britain today. In my mind, British luxury is about craftsmanship and an uncompromising standard of excellence. Our best luxury brands believe in heritage at the same time as adapting to (and, more importantly) being the force for positive change. Those values align with what we are doing at TJB.
What attracted you to becoming a Walpole member?
Walpole is a group dedicated to promoting, protecting and developing British luxury worldwide. This partnership allows us to grow our extensive network and join 250 leading brands in the British luxury ecosystem. With Walpole, we know we will collaborate with like-minded thinkers who share our vision for the British luxury industry.
If you could collaborate with another Walpole member, which one would you choose (and what would you like to do)?
We’re always open to new ideas and innovative ways to collaborate. Some of the best brand partnerships come from unlikely pairings. From fashion to music or sport, our association with Walpole means there are exciting opportunities out there. I look forward to finding them.
Tell us about an exciting development or new launch for your brand in the coming months...
In 2022, we proudly launched TJB Private Travel: a complementary luxury travel company with the emphasis on inspiring travellers to explore the wonders beyond the sea. With many yachting clients enquiring about villa rentals and ski chalets after their yacht charters, we have been building a luxury property portfolio organically for years. So, in 2022 we formally introduced TJB Private Travel as a separate entity, with Lori Laius at the helm as our Managing Director.
This year, we plan on expanding our collection of private property rentals further as well as offering experiential travels. Leveraging our extensive and growing contacts, we offer access to some of the most beautiful private homes in the most extraordinary destinations. There's a world behind closed doors and we're excited to share it with our clients.
