Alessandro Benetton
Alessandro Benetton (born 2 March 1964) is an Italian businessman.
Alessandro Benetton | |
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![]() Alessandro Benetton in 1990. | |
Born | |
Nationality | Italian |
Alma mater | Boston University Harvard University |
Occupation | businessman |
Employer | 21 Investimenti S.p.A. Benetton Formula |
Known for | Chairman of the Benetton Group, son of co-founder of Benetton Group Luciano Benetton |
Relatives | Luciano Benetton (father) Rocco Benetton (brother) Giuliana Benetton (aunt) Carlo Benetton (uncle) Gilberto Benetton (uncle) |
He served as Chairman of the Benetton Group from April 2012 to May 2014.
Early life
Alessandro Benetton is the son of Luciano Benetton and Maria Teresa Maestri. He attended university in the United States where he graduated from Boston University in 1987 with a degree in Business Administration and in 1991 received his Master of Business Administration from Harvard.[1]
Career
In 1992, Alessandro Benetton created 21 Investimenti S.p.A. (the company changed its name in 21 invest in November 2018).[2] Today the European Group has offices in Treviso, Milan, Paris, Geneva and Warsaw. He is one of the pioneers of private equity in Italy.[3] Some of the companies that have been successfully relaunched are Pittarosso[4] and The Space Cinema.[5]
Benetton served as Chairman of the Benetton Formula from 1988 to 1998.[6] His chairmanship years were marked by Formula One victories (26 out of the team's total 27), including two world titles won with Michael Schumacher[7] in 1994 and 1995, a manufacturing victory in 1995, and a collaboration with Nelson Piquet, Jean Alesi, Riccardo Patrese, Alessandro Nannini.
From 1988 to 1989, he worked in the Global Finance department at Goldman Sachs International in London as an analyst in the Mergers and Acquisitions and Equity Offering sectors.
In 2012, Luciano Benetton handed over the chairmanship of the Benetton Group to his eldest son Alessandro.[8] He later chaired the company for two years, from 2012 to 2014.[9]
Also in 2016, Alessandro Benetton stepped down from Benetton Group Board of directors, due to differences with the company's new strategies.[10]
Other positions held
He is a member of the Advisory Committee of Robert Bosch International Beteiligungen AG in Zurich, the consultancy unit of the Swiss holding for the foreign activities of the Bosch Group. He is currently also on the Board of Directors for Edizione S.r.l., and Autogrill S.p.A.. In June 2017 he became President of Cortina Foundation 2021, the entity responsible for the organization of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championship scheduled in Cortina d’Ampezzo (BL) for January 2021.[11]
Personal life
He is married to former Olympic and Alpine World Ski champion Deborah Compagnoni, with whom he has three children: Agnese, Tobias and Luce. He is involved in a variety of sports at a competitive level, particularly Alpine skiing[12] - where he is a coach for the Italian Winter Sports Federation - and kite surfing.[13] He is a collector of modern art.
Honors
In 2010, he was appointed Cavaliere del Lavoro by the President of the Italian Republic at the time, Giorgio Napolitano.[14]
In 2016, he received the America Award of the Italy-USA Foundation.
Awards
In 2012, he sponsored United Colors of Benetton's UnHate communication campaign, winner of the Press Grand Prix at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.[15]
In 2011, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year by EY.[16]
External links
References
- "Face Value - New colours at Benetton". The Economist. November 1, 2007.
- (in Italian)Benetton: nuovo logo per 21 Investimenti, diventa 21 Invest
- "Executive profile: Alessandro Benetton". Bloomberg.com.
- "PittaRosso bought by British private equity firm Lion Capital". uk.fashionmag.com.
- "21 Investimenti exits Space Cinema". uk.fashionmag.com.
- "Benetton Group - Corporate Website". www.benettongroup.com. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- Wood, Zoe (2009-02-06). "The Friday Interview: Alessandro Benetton". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- Hurley, Josephine McKenna and James (2012-04-22). "Luciano Benetton hands over fashion empire to his son". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- "Benetton Heir Alessandro Goes It Alone With Private Equity Firm". Bloomberg.com. 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- Zargani, Luisa (2016-11-28). "Alessandro Benetton to Exit Board of Directors". WWD. Retrieved 2017-11-22.
- "Alessandro Benetton named President of the Cortina 2021 Foundation". Archived from the original on 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2017-10-31.
- "Shop Talk: A Ski-Shop Excursion With Alessandro Benetton". The Wall Street Journal.
- "Alessandro Benetton Revels in Outdoor Sports". The Wall Street Journal.
- "Presidenza della Repubblica Italiana - Alessandro Benetton Cavaliere dell'Ordine Al Merito del Lavoro".
- "Benetton Group press release - First accolade for Unhate at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity".
- "Alessandro Benetton's Youtube - World Entrepreneur of the Year, by Ernst&Young".