Saildrone Expands Ocean Data Solutions with Key Operations Hire

Saildrone is pleased to announce two new leadership team members poised to help the company grow its operations team. The addition of Mark Cuyler as Chief Operating Officer will help Saildrone to grow and scale ocean data solutions for maritime security, ocean mapping, and science.

“Mark has a proven track record of building teams at startups, established OEMs, and new industry players,” said Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO. “We are excited to have him leading operations to drive growth, scale our business, and position the company as a market leader in maritime data, analytics, and content services.” 

Mark Cuyler brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in advanced manufacturing, lean principles, and operational excellence to Saildrone. He has spent the past 28 years helping introduce new products into the market, from inception through launch. Some marquee products include the Amazon Electric Delivery Van, Tesla Model S, and Pontiac Solstice. Cuyler will use these experiences to drive Saildrone forward across production, fleet, mission operations, and program management as it scales across many new business opportunities. 

Most recently, Cuyler served as director of global fleet vehicle design, engineering, and execution for Amazon’s Last Mile program and has also held various senior leadership roles at Faraday Future, Webasto, Apple, and Tesla. 

“I'm honored to have the opportunity to work with the talented people driving Saildrone to be the world leader in autonomous surface vehicles. I am excited every day to learn how our technology and applications are working to support the most important ocean science, mapping, and maritime awareness missions,” said Cuyler. “I know my experiences in building great organizations, scaling operations, and attention to customer needs will help Saildrone achieve its goals. And to add to this career satisfaction is the ability also to support my personal interests in sailing and the environment. I’m looking forward to the years to come.”

Cuyler began his career in manufacturing engineering with 15 years at General Motors. He holds a MS in Engineering Management and BS in Mechanical Engineering.