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Giovanna Vitelli wins entrepreneur award
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The Chair of Azimut-Benetti Group is the Italy winner of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Giovanna Vitelli, Chair of Azimut-Benetti Group, is the National Winner (Italy) of the 27th EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Founded in the US in 1986, the award is presented in every US state and in almost 80 countries and territories around the world.
The independent jury, composed of representatives of institutions, economics and industry, awarded the prestigious recognition to Vitelli for “not only directing the company towards growth in size and profitability but also for inspiring technological advancements and projects focused on sustainability, employee well-being and corporate social responsibility”.
EY – one of the world’s ‘big four’ accountancy firms – select the winner from Italian entrepreneurs who have contributed to the economic, social and environmental growth of the country. The winners stand out for their capacity to transform, innovate and promote sustainability, demonstrated in the context of significant challenges and continuous change, EY stated.
In 2000, after practising corporate law, Vitelli joined the Board of Directors of Azimut-Benetti Group, owned by her father. After progressively taking the lead in product development, she became Chair in 2023. The Group – the world’s leading manufacturer of 24m-plus superyachts for 24 consecutive years – closed the latest financial year with €1.3 billion of revenue, representing a 55 per cent growth over the last four years.
Vitelli said: “I believe this award represents recognition for the results obtained by the entire Group as we accompany our clients into a new era of yachting and a new way of experiencing the sea. As a family company, we have the privilege of looking ahead and creating value over time.
“Today, this means committing to reducing emissions to make the nautical world more sustainable, which inspires other players in the sector to do the same. But above all, it means continuing to combine the greatest beauty with the most sophisticated technology. My thanks to the 2,250 people who work for Azimut-Benetti Group around the world and who, together with me, continue to chart the course.”
Vitelli identified the constant investment in innovation as the determining factor in maintaining leadership and generating value for people and the local community. The Group’s product development strategy includes the creation of new trends and onboard lifestyles, as well as technological advancement, all helping to reduce environmental impact, as exemplified by Benetti’s Oasis Deck® and Azimut’s Seadeck series.
In the field of environmental sustainability, the Group’s strategy focuses on weight reduction, high-efficiency hulls, hybrid propulsion systems, and onboard power management. At the same time, in collaboration with independent organisations and universities, the company promotes the establishment of certification standards for consumption and emissions.
Vitelli’s initiatives also include establishing the Azimut-Benetti Group Corporate Academy, aimed at professional education and growth, with the goal of transferring excellence in technology, engineering and manufacturing within the company, while also supporting young people entering the world of yachting.
