Gianluigi Aponte
| Gianluigi Aponte | |
|---|---|
| Born |
27 June 1940 Sant'Agnello, Italy |
| Residence | Geneva, Switzerland |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Alma mater | Istituto Tecnico Nautico Statale Nino Bixio |
| Occupation | Founder, Mediterranean Shipping Company |
| Net worth |
 $5.7 billion[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Rafaela Denat |
| Parent(s) |
Aniello Aponte Gina Gatti |
Gianluigi Aponte (born 27 June 1940)[2] is an Italian businessman, founder, owner and chairman of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the second-largest container shipping line in the world after Maersk.
Early life
Gianluigi Aponte was born in Sant'Agnello, Italy (near Sorrento, Naples)[1] on 27 June 1940.
Career
Gianluigi Aponte is a Neapolitan captain, who entered the shipping industry in 1970 together with his spouse, Rafaela. At that time, the newly formed company owned a single ship that would ship cargo between Europe and Africa.[3] With the growth of his business he eventually made a move towards the cruise industry in 1988. As of 2014 he has retired from the position of CEO and president in favour of his son, Diego Aponte, and took on a role as group executive chairman within MSC.[4]
Honours
In 2009, at the Teatro di San Carlo of Naples, he received, along with Fabio Cannavaro, Ambra Vallo and others, a prize for "Neapolitan Excellence in the World" from the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.
In 2012 he won the Cruise International Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for his long term activity in the industry.[5]
In October 2013, he received Containerisation International’s Lifetime Achievement Award [6] as well as a knighthood, Order of Merit for Labour, from Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.[7] In 2014, Aponte and his family were named among the 10 most influential people in the shipping industry according to Lloyds List.[8]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Gianluigi & Rafaela Aponte". Forbes. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
- ↑ http://www.goffredolocatelli.it/attachments/Articolo%20%20Aponte%20per%20Den%20_rivisto_.pdf
- ↑ Saltmarsh, Matthew. "Shipping Magnate Takes a New Tack: The Cruise Business", The New York Times [online], October 29, 2010. Accessed 21 April 2015
- ↑ Brett, Damian. "Diego Aponte becomes MSC president", Lloyd's List, Containerisation International, 2 October 2014. Accessed 14 April 2015
- ↑ "MSC Cruises' Founder Receives Cruise International's Lifetime Achievement Award, MSC Cruises, 13 September 2012. Accessed 21 April 2015
- ↑ http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/sector/containers/article431458.ece
- ↑ "MSC’s Aponte Receives Italian Order of Merit for Labor ", Cruise Industry News, 15 October 2013. Accessed 21 April 2015
- ↑ http://www.lloydslist.com/ll/news/top100/article452748.ece