The series-production brand of the Vitelli family's Azimut|Benetti group, the world's largest yacht builder for 26 years running.
1969
Founded
Vitelli family · PIF minority
Owner
EUR 1.56 bn · 2024/25
Group production value
EUR 2.5 bn to 2029
Order book
about 2,500 group · 1,100 Avigliana
People
15 to 44 m composite
Range
What happened, 2023 to 2026
Dec 2024Top seatFounder Paolo Vitelli dies; daughter Giovanna is chair since 2023
May 2025Top seatAndrea Antichi, from Ferrari, general manager of the Azimut division
Sep 2025MoneyEUR 115 m investment plan; new offices in Jeddah and Riyadh
Dec 2025MoneyFirst in the Global Order Book for the 26th year
Jul 2026BuildGrande 44M, the largest Azimut, launched
Oct 2026DealFerrari Hypersail partnership; group bids for TISG's assets
What it adds up to. A family group that rules out a listing, invests EUR 115 m, and hired a Ferrari manager to run the brand after the founder's death.
Who runs it
President, Azimut Benetti Americassince 2010
General Manager, Azimut Yachtssince 2025
Chief Commercial Officer EMEA and APACsince 2024
Head of Sales, Azimut Grande EMEA and APACsince 2023
Head of Manufacturing, Avigliana sitesince 2024
Chief Operating Officer, Service Division, Azimut|Benetti Groupsince 2026
Organisation. Family group; division general manager from Ferrari under the group CEO
What it shows for a new yard. A division general manager from outside yachting under a family CEO: the group hires operators, keeps strategy.
Former leaders now elsewhere28 people who held a top or senior seat here
now Chief Executive Officer at Marina di Varazze
now Consultant at Self-employed
now General Manager sales and Marketing at Cantieri Aschenez
now Chief Executive Officer at Camper & Nicholsons
now Founder & Strategic Advisor at Elessargery
now Technical Director at The Italian Sea Group S.p.A
now Head of Metal Division at Next Yacht Group
now Purchasing manager at Baglietto spa
now Sales Director at Benetti Yachts
now Head of Sales at Maiora - Next Yacht Group
now Expert consultant in business organization and production of shipyards and manufacturing companies. at Lavoratore autonomo
now Head of Manufacturing Engineering Department And Warehouse - Responsabile IGP e MAGAZZINO at Next Yacht Group
now Chief Financial Officer at SANLORENZO SPA
now Founder and CEO at NauticALL
now Direttore di produzione at The Italian Sea Group S.p.A
now Head of Procurement at Next Yacht Group
now Shipyard Manager at Tankoa Yachts
now Industrial Executive Director - B.U. Yacht at Sanlorenzo Yacht
now Plant Director at Sanlorenzo Yacht
now Sales Director at Ferretti Group America
now Chief Customer & Improvement Officer at Ferretti Group
now Shipyard Director at The Italian Sea Group S.p.A
now Chief Technical Officer at Hydro Tec
now Co-Founder at BERMAN Consulting Srl
now New Project Development at MANGUSTA Overmarine Group
now Group Chief R&D Officer at Sanlorenzo Yacht
now President Americas at Mangusta Yachts
now Founder & Director of A S Y A at A S Y A
The top team as read on LinkedIn28 people read as staff, October 2026
Brand General Manager (from Ferrari manufacturing, May 2025) under the group CEO, over: Chief Operating Officer (Sep 2026, from Quick and Technogym), Technical Director (a former yard CEO), Chief Commercial Officer EMEA-APAC and Head of Sales for the Grande line (both grown inside), Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Project Management for new models, Head of Manufacturing and quality heads per plant, Head of After Sales for the large line; the group CFO (since 1999) and group communications sit above the brand.
Azimut is the series-production reference: a brand general manager and COO taken from automotive and industrial manufacturing in the last eighteen months, a technical director who once ran a yard, and a commercial function built on dealer-network development rather than owner relationships. The LinkedIn roster is dominated by the Avigliana factory floor and by dealers worldwide, which is itself a finding about how Azimut sells. The founder died at the end of 2024 and the group remains family-controlled with a minority investor.
Seats and dates are as the people describe them on LinkedIn; a person who moved in the last months can still show the old seat. Tap a person for the profile and the reading.
Candidates at Azimut Yachts12 in the pools; the shortlisted first, then by tier and score
Reading. Technical Director since Oct 2022; CEO and managing director of Cantiere del Pardo 2011-2014, Azimut operations director and product and process development director before, chief engineer from 2001; additive-manufacturing founder and lean operations executive in between; aerospace engineer. A technical leader who has held a yard CEO seat.
Career
Technical Director · Azimut Yachts Oct 2022 – Present
Founding partner · SPEM, Additive Manufacturing Company Jun 2018 – Dec 2022
Operations Executive and Lean Business Organization · ELLENA S.P.A. Mar 2014 – Oct 2022
CEO - Managing Director w/ Operations · Cantiere del Pardo Holdings s.r.l. Oct 2011 – Mar 2014
Operations Director Motorcruiser · Azimut Yachts May 2010 – Sep 2011
Product & Process development Director Azimut MC · Azimut Yachts 2008 – Jun 2010
Chief engineer Azimut Yachts MC · Azimut Yachts Jan 2001 – Dec 2007
Engineer Azimut Yachts MC · Azimut Yachts Nov 1999 – Dec 2000
Education
Politecnico di Torino Master of Science (MSc) · aerospace engineering; Facoltà di Economia e Commercio Master · Marketing and communications
Languages
Francese · Elementary proficiency, Inglese · Full professional proficiency
Leadership maturity10%Over 15 year experience in automotive leading companies (Ferrari S.p.A and Piaggio S.p.A.)
Reading. General Manager since May 2025 from Ferrari, where he was Chief Manufacturing Officer (2022-2025) after heads of vehicle assembly, engine assembly and machining; mechanical engineer with an executive MBA. The brief names him as the technical-heavy alternative: a manufacturing chief now running a brand, with no sales history.
Career
General Manager · Azimut Yachts May 2025 – Present
Chief Manufacturing Officer · Ferrari Jan 2022 – May 2025
Head of vehicles assembly · Ferrari Jun 2018 – Jan 2022
Haed of engine assembly line and machining · Ferrari Jun 2015 – Jun 2018
Head of machining · Ferrari Jan 2014 – Jun 2015
Engines Process Engineer · Ferrari Jan 2008 – Dec 2013
Technologist of engine assembly line · Ferrari Mar 2006 – Dec 2007
Technologist of engine assembly line · Piaggio Oct 2005 – Mar 2006
and 2 earlier roles
Education
Bologna Business School Corporate Executive Master in Business Administration; Università di Pisa Laurea Ingegneria Meccanica
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Leading Operations across manufacturing, production & supply chain planning, logistics and manufacturing/process engineering
* Business building20%Group Chief Operating and Sustainability Officer @ Quick Group (Dec 2023 – Aug 2026); Plant Manager @ Technogym
Leadership maturity10%more than 20 years of experience leading operations, transformation and value creation
Reading. COO since Sep 2026 over manufacturing, supply chain planning, logistics and process engineering; Quick Group COO 2023-2026, Technogym plant manager 2017-2023, FCA world-class manufacturing; mechanical engineer with an MBA. An industrial operations chief from fitness equipment and marine hardware, weeks into the yard.
* Yacht network20%Vice President - Azimut-Benetti USA (2004-2010)
* Technical and pricing20%Service Manager @ Azimut Yachts (2000-2004)
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. President of the group's US company since 2010, vice president 2004-2010, service manager before; economics degree. A long-tenured regional president, not an obvious mover.
Career
President · Azimut Benetti Americas Jan 2010 – Present
President - Azimut-Benetti USA · Azimut|Benetti Group 2010 – Present
Vice President - Azimut-Benetti USA · Azimut Yachts 2004 – 2010
Service Manager · Azimut Yachts 2000 – 2004
Owner · D.S. Shipping Charter 1996 – 2000
Education
Università degli Studi di Milano Economics; Liceo Classico Edmondo de Amicis High School · Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature
* Commercial leadership30%Technical & Sales Director @ Amico & Co Srl
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Viareggio and Massa Operations Director @ Azimut Yachts
* Business building20%Chief Operating Officer Service Division @ Azimut|Benetti Group (Sep 2026 – Present)
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. COO of the group's service division since Sep 2026 after running Azimut's Viareggio and Massa operations; co-director technical and sales at Amico & Co refit 2017-2024; naval engineer. A technical-and-sales operations leader inside the biggest Italian group.
Career
Chief Operating Officier Service Division · Azimut|Benetti Group Sep 2026 – Present
Viareggio and Massa Operations Director · Azimut Yachts Sep 2024 – Sep 2026
Co-Founder & Managing Director · Marine Tools Mar 2021 – Nov 2024
Technical & Sales Director Amico & Co · Amico & Co Srl Aug 2019 – Aug 2024
Co-Director, Technical & Sales · Amico & Co Srl Jan 2018 – Aug 2019
Technical and Sales Manager · Amico & Co Srl Nov 2013 – Dec 2017
Ingegnere Navale · Verme Yacht Design Aug 2012 – Nov 2013
Ingegnere Nautico e Yacht Designer · E.T. Yacht Design Sep 2011 – Jun 2012
and 1 earlier roles
Education
Università degli Studi di Genova Laurea specialistica · Ingegneria nautica; Università degli Studi di Genova Laurea triennale in Ingegneria Navale
* Yacht network20%Asia, Middle East & Africa Head of Sales @ Azimut Yachts (Nov 2021 – Dec 2023)
* Technical and pricing20%No evidence in the profile.
* Business building20%key account management and dealership network development
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. CCO for EMEA and APAC since Jan 2024, head of sales for Asia, Middle East and Africa 2021-2023, area manager since 2009; economics degree. Grew up inside Azimut's dealer-network sales model.
Europe Head of Sales & Delivery Operations - Head of Marketing · Azimut Yachts Oct 2023 – Nov 2024
Europe Head of Sales and Delivery Operations · Azimut Yachts Mar 2021 – Dec 2023
Europe Area Manager · Azimut Yachts Oct 2013 – Mar 2021
Sales Manager Americas, and Australasia · SESSA MARINE May 2011 – Oct 2013
Europe Sales Department · Azimut Yachts Mar 2010 – May 2011
Business Development Analyst · Azimut Yachts May 2009 – Jun 2010
Europe Sales Dept. · Azimut Yachts Dec 2008 – Apr 2009
and 2 earlier roles
Education
Il Sole 24 ORE Business School Master's degree · Luxury Management; UC San Diego Certificate Program · Business Management - Marketing Emphasis; Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Bachelor's Degree · Science of Communication
Languages
English · Full professional proficiency, French, Italian · Native or bilingual proficiency, Spanish
* Commercial leadership30%Head of Sales Azimut Grande EMEA-APAC @ Azimut Yachts (Dec 2023 – Present)
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Yacht designer @ Cantieri Navali Spertini Alalunga; Master Degree (First class honours) Genova
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Since Dec 2023; Azimut Far East sales since 2018, Seakeeper sales, yacht designer by first training; executive MBA.
Career
Head of Sales Azimut Grande EMEA-APAC · Azimut Yachts Dec 2023 – Present
Area Manager APAC| Azimut Grande Direct Sales · Azimut Yachts Apr 2021 – Dec 2023
Sales Manager Far East · Azimut Yachts Apr 2018 – Apr 2021
Sales Representative - Southern Europe · Seakeeper, Inc. Sep 2015 – Mar 2018
Sales - Business Unit Yacht · SB Group Nov 2013 – Aug 2015
Credit sales management dept. · Interfinance Spa Feb 2013 – Oct 2013
Yacht designer · Cantieri Navali Spertini Alalunga Jan 2012 – Oct 2012
Final Master Thesis Project · WMG ( Warwick manifacturing group ) , University of Warwick Sep 2011 – Mar 2012
Education
SAA - School of Management, Università di Torino Executive Master of Business Administration - EMBA; Università degli Studi di Genova / University of Genoa Master Degree (M.A. First class honours (1st)) · “Yacht and Naval Design” at University of Genoa and Milan Polytechnic; WMG ( University of Warwick ) Sustainable Materials Group Internships/Final Master Thesis project
Languages
Inglese · Professional working proficiency, Italiano · Native or bilingual proficiency
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%direttore produzione @ Azimut|Benetti Group; responsabile produzione @ Azimut Yachts (2009-2018)
* Business building20%Director of Operations @ Azimut|Benetti Group (Sep 2018 – Present)
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Director of operations of the group since Sep 2018 after nine years as Azimut production manager and production director; mechanical engineer from Genoa. The production head of the largest Italian builder; no commercial side.
Career
Director of Operations · Azimut|Benetti Group Sep 2018 – Present
direttore produzione · Azimut|Benetti Group May 2009 – Sep 2018
responsabile produzione · Azimut Yachts Sep 2002 – Apr 2009
responsabile qualità · tek consult srl Jan 2001 – Sep 2002
Education
Università degli Studi di Genova meccanica · ingegneria; Università degli Studi di Genova laurea ingegneria meccanica · Ingegneria meccanica
* Commercial leadership30%Pre-Contractual Design and Cost Estimating @ Benetti Yachts; Sales Engineering Department Manager @ Benetti Yachts
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Benetti Custom Engineering Director @ Azimut|Benetti Group (Mar 2025 – Present); Head of Basic Design Department @ Benetti
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Engineering director of Benetti Custom since Mar 2025, up from project engineer in 2017 through sales engineering department manager, pre-contractual design and cost estimating, and head of basic design. MBA (MIP). The one Benetti engineer whose career runs through the pricing step the brief cares about.
Career
Benetti Custom Engineering Director · Azimut|Benetti Group Mar 2025 – Present
Head of Engineering - Benetti Custom · Benetti Yachts Sep 2024 – Feb 2025
Head of Basic and Executive Design Departments · Benetti Yachts Feb 2021 – Aug 2024
Head of Basic Design Department · Benetti Yachts Jul 2020 – Jan 2021
Pre-Contractual Design and Cost Estimation Department Manager · Benetti Yachts Mar 2019 – Jan 2021
Sales Engineering Department Manager · Benetti Yachts Sep 2017 – Mar 2019
Project Engineer · Benetti Yachts Nov 2016 – Aug 2017
Technical Employee · Studio Engineering Nov 2013 – Nov 2016
and 2 earlier roles
Education
MIP Politecnico di Milano Master of Business Administration - MBA · Executive MBA; Università degli Studi di Genova Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Navale; Università degli Studi di Genova Laurea in Ingegneria Navale
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Oversee the end-to-end development and launch of new models, directing a team of 4+ Project Managers
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%over 20 years of experience in New Product Development (NPD) programs
Reading. Since 2018; leads four project managers and about 80 specialists on five to ten concurrent model launches; brand manager and project manager at Azimut since 2002.
Career
Head of Project Management | Azimut Headquarters · Azimut Yachts Sep 2018 – Present
Project Manager · Azimut Yachts Jun 2009 – Dec 2012
Program Manager · Azimut Yachts Jan 2008 – May 2009
Early career: Technical Path · Azimut Yachts Oct 2002 – Dec 2007
Education
SDA Bocconi Finance for non finance manager (Lettura e Analisi del Bilancio d'Esercizio); SDA Bocconi Project Management (Tutti i Numeri del Progetto); Festo Consulting & Academy Italia Industrial Agile Project Management
* Commercial leadership30%No evidence in the profile.
* Yacht network20%No evidence in the profile.
* Technical and pricing20%Head of Manufacturing | Sito di Avigliana @ Azimut Yachts (Sep 2024 – Present)
* Business building20%No evidence in the profile.
Leadership maturity10%No evidence in the profile.
Reading. Since Sep 2024 from Tenneco and Denso automotive production.
Career
Head of Manufacturing | Sito di Avigliana | Produzione | Operations · Azimut Yachts Sep 2024 – Present
Value Stream Production Manager · Tenneco Oct 2017 – Aug 2024
Responsabile Unità Operativa · DENSO Thermal Systems S.p.A. Dec 2016 – Sep 2017
Manufacturing Team Leader · ITT Motion Technologies Dec 2012 – Dec 2016
Logistic Engineer · ITT Motion Technologies Feb 2012 – Dec 2012
Warehouse Employee & Team Leader · AFM Admenta Italia S.p.A. - CELESIO Nov 2003 – Jan 2012
Education
Politecnico di Torino MASIEO - Master Of Advanced Studies in Engineering and Operation; Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI) Master di II Livello in Ingegneria dei Processi Industriali · Ingegneria industriale; Università di Bologna / University of Bologna Laurea Specialistica · Industrial Engineering
Languages
Francese · Limited working proficiency, Inglese · Professional working proficiency, Italiano · Native or bilingual proficiency
Founded: 1969 by Paolo Vitelli (began by chartering sailboats); bought Benetti (Viareggio, building since 1873) in 1985.
Headquarters: group HQ Viareggio (per group site); Azimut brand HQ and main yard Avigliana, near Turin. source 1source 2
Group yards: Avigliana (Piedmont), Savona (Liguria), Viareggio and Livorno (Tuscany), Fano (Marche), Itajai (Brazil). source
Ownership: private, Vitelli family; the group calls itself "the world's largest private group in yachting". A Hong Kong partner took a minority stake around 2004; in 2023 the group named Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) a "new partner" and "new shareholder" (stake not disclosed). source 1source 2source 3
Employees: about 2,500 in the group (chairwoman interview, 2025-09-18); about 1,100 work directly at Avigliana (2025-11-19). source 1source 2
Revenue (group, fiscal year to end of August): EUR 840 million 2020/21; EUR 1.0 billion 2021/22; EUR 1.2 billion 2022/23; EUR 1.3 billion 2023/24. source
2024/25: consolidated production value EUR 1,561 million (up 10%), EBIT EUR 203.7 million; Benetti division revenue EUR 581 million (so Azimut and other activities account for the rest). source
Order book: EUR 2.5 billion acquired since 2025-01-01, deliveries to 2029; Europe 38%, Americas 31%, EMEA-APAC 31%; more than EUR 300 million sold in Saudi Arabia in 24 months (2025-09-02). source
Global Order Book 2025 (published 2024-12): 1st for the 25th year, 164 yachts, 5,905 m, about 20% of the market. source
Global Order Book 2026 (published 2025-12): 1st for the 26th year, 163 yachts, 5,924 m, 23% of the market. source
Product
Azimut brand: composite (GRP with extensive carbon fibre) motor yachts, about 15 to 44 m, series production. Lines: Seadeck (hybrid-ready, launched 2024), Fly, S (sport), Verve, Magellano (long-range), Grande (flagship range, built in Viareggio). Avigliana builds 13 models in 5 series; larger boats are built in Viareggio and Fano; sea trials in Savona. source 1source 2
Semi-custom only at the top of the Grande range; full custom is Benetti's domain (not covered here).
Flagship: Azimut Grande 44M, 44 m, more than half the structure carbon fibre, launched in Viareggio 2026-07; the largest Azimut ever built. source
Notable deliveries 2023 to 2026.
My Tyme and Adamar, 2 x Azimut Grande Trideck 38 m, delivered 2024-08. source
Magellano 27M, world premiere at Cannes 2025-09 (interiors by AMDL Circle and Michele De Lucchi). source
Grande 44M launched 2026-07 (above).
Custom Fly 72 with Ferrari Hypersail tie-up, new Livorno production facility, 2026-10. source
Leadership
Giovanna Vitelli — chairwoman (president) of the Azimut|Benetti Group since 2023-03, as of 2026-07-08. source 1source 2
Marco Valle — CEO (managing director) of the Azimut|Benetti Group, as of 2026-10-20. source 1source 2
Andrea Antichi — general manager, Azimut Yachts division, as of 2025-11-19. source
Roy Capasso — head of Azimut do Brasil after the managing director and sales director left, as of 2025-10-08. source
Georgia Agu — group general counsel, as of 2026-05-06. source
News 2023 to 2026
2026-10
Azimut Yachts becomes official yachting partner of Ferrari Hypersail; custom Fly 72 shown in Livorno.superyacht24.it
2026-07
Group says it could consider buying assets of the troubled The Italian Sea Group "should the right opportunity arise" (chairwoman Giovanna Vitelli).superyacht24.it
2026-07
Azimut Grande 44M, the brand's largest yacht, launched in Viareggio.superyacht24.it
2026-06
Giovanna Vitelli appointed president of Altagamma (Italian luxury industry association).azimutbenetti.com
2025-12
Group first in the Global Order Book for the 26th year: 163 yachts, 5,924 m.forbes.it
2025-09
Group forecasts EUR 1.5 billion revenue for 2024/25 (up 15%); EUR 115 million investment 2024 to 2027; new offices in Jeddah (Azimut) and Riyadh (Benetti).superyacht24.it
2025-09
Giovanna Vitelli rules out a stock-market listing; acquisitions possible only in services.superyacht24.it
2025-05
Andrea Antichi, from Ferrari, becomes general manager of the Azimut division (date from a 2025-11 interview saying "last May").superyacht24.it
