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 elsewhere30 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 Manager Projects Design at Oceanco
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 dirigente at SANLORENZO SPA
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
Organisation chartthe top seat, the senior layer by function, and the managers where the top team is small; the number two is marked
FF
Federico Ferrante
President, Azimut Benetti Americas
since 2010
Andrea Antichi
General Manager, Azimut Yachts
since 2025
Benchmark
Sales and marketing4 senior, +9 managers below
Engineering and design2 senior, +5 managers below
Production and operations4 senior, +23 managers below
Projects and service2 senior, +18 managers below
Finance, legal and IT1 senior, +5 managers below
Enrico Chiaussa
Chief Commercial Officer EMEA and APAC
since 2024
Number two
Filippo Tomasoni
Head of Sales, Azimut Grande EMEA and APAC
since 2023
Jad Zakkak Migliorini
Chief Marketing Officer
since 2024
Laura Sandrone
Head of Communications and PR, Azimut-Benetti Group
since 2024
Marco Tommaso Coiatelli
Benetti Custom Engineering Director, Azimut|Benetti Group
since 2025
Ruggero Gandolfi
Technical Director
since 2022
Alfredo M Pugliese
Head of Manufacturing, Avigliana site
since 2024
Daniele Di Giampaolo
Chief Operating Officer, Service Division, Azimut|Benetti Group
since 2026
Emanuele Casarino
Director of Operations, Azimut|Benetti Group
since 2018
Marco Rodi
Chief Operating Officer
since 2026
EC
Enzo Costa
Head of Project Management (new product development)
since 2018
GC
Giacomo Ceriani
Head of After Sales EMEA and APAC, over 26 m
since 2025
Gianandrea Emprin
Chief Financial Officer, Azimut-Benetti Group
since 1999
Managers in functions with no senior seat on the page, not drawn: purchasing 7, people 5
Number two. Eighteen years inside the brand's sales organisation, the commercial chief since 2024, under a general manager hired from Ferrari in 2025. The operations alternative is the new COO (Rodi, September 2026).
The top team as read on LinkedIn213 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 Yachts11 people under 50 in the pools; the shortlisted first
General manager of Azimut Yachts since May 2025 after nineteen years at Ferrari, the last three as chief manufacturing officer; mechanical engineer with an executive MBA.
Reachability
Unlikely before 2027
Revisit: May 2027 · Location model A
What would move them
A greenfield yard is the industrial project a chief manufacturing officer wants: Ferrari-grade production in a new building.
The trigger
Eighteen months into a brief to consolidate the Azimut sites; nothing before the sites are consolidated, unless the group's shareholders change the plan.
The route, and the location model
Through the automotive alumni now at Azimut and the Bologna business school network; not direct. An industrial general manager: a resident seat, with a commercial chief beside him (he is the operations half).
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
Age45 to 49estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inItaly
Current seatGeneral Manager, Azimut Yachts, since 2025
CareerSince 2004, 22 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current)
EducationBologna Business School Corporate Executive Master in Business Administration; Università di Pisa Laurea Ingegneria Meccanica
LanguagesNot given
In brief
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.
From the web
Appointed general manager of the Azimut division in May 2025, reporting to group CEO Marco Valle, with a brief to consolidate the production sites (Azimut release, Boat International, Yacht Style); succeeded Daniele Romiti. Pressmare's March 2026 interview at Avigliana gives his birth year as 1979 and traces the Ferrari manufacturing career; he fronts Azimut's technical partnership with the Hypersail project.
Marco Rodi
Chief Operating Officer at Azimut Yachts · Cervia, Italy
Azimut chief operating officer since September 2026 over manufacturing, supply chain and process engineering; group COO of Quick, plant manager at Technogym, FCA world-class manufacturing before. Mechanical engineer, MBA.
Reachability
Unlikely before 2027
Revisit: September 2028 · Location model A
What would move them
A plant of his own to design, after the Technogym and Quick plants and FCA's world-class manufacturing.
The trigger
Weeks into the seat; not before two years unless Azimut's reorganisation fails.
The route, and the location model
Through the Quick Group and Technogym alumni; direct in 2028. Industrial, already mobile between Romagna and Piedmont.
Age43 to 47estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inCervia, Italy
Current seatChief Operating Officer, Azimut Yachts, since 2026
CareerSince 2005, 21 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current); Ferretti Group (earlier)
EducationSDA Bocconi; Università di Bologna Master · MBA
LanguagesNot given
In brief
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.
From the web
Public sources still show him as group chief operating and sustainability officer of Quick Group, the deck-equipment maker, from December 2023; only his own profile carries the Azimut chief operating officer seat from September 2026. No announcement found, which fits an appointment weeks old.
Daniele Di Giampaolo
Chief Operating Officier Service Division at Azimut|Benetti Group · Genoa, Italy
COO of Azimut|Benetti's service division since September 2026 after two years running Azimut's Viareggio and Massa operations; co-director technical and sales of the Amico & Co refit yard before; naval engineer.
Reachability
Unlikely before 2027
Revisit: September 2027 · Location model B
What would move them
Newbuild operations; the service division is a step sideways from running the Viareggio and Massa yards.
The trigger
Weeks into the seat; the trigger is the end of the service-division build-out or a return to a newbuild role.
The route, and the location model
Through the Genoa refit network, where he was co-director of a yard for five years. Genoa-based with a company he co-founded; the operations half.
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
Age40 to 46estimate from the first dated job; less exact
Based inGenoa, Italy
Current seatChief Operating Officier Service Division, Azimut Yachts, since 2026
CareerSince 2007, 19 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current)
EducationUniversità degli Studi di Genova Laurea specialistica · Ingegneria nautica; Università degli Studi di Genova Laurea triennale in Ingegneria Navale
LanguagesInglese
In brief
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.
From the web
Listed as Viareggio and Massa operations director of Azimut since September 2024 and, in LinkedIn's directory, as chief operating officer of the group's service division; quoted in Superyacht24's 2023 piece on Italian refit beside Paolo Vitelli while at Amico & Co. No announcement of the September 2026 move found.
Enrico Chiaussa
Chief Commercial Officer EMEA-APAC at Azimut Yachts · Italy
Eighteen years inside Azimut's dealer-network sales, chief commercial officer for EMEA and APAC since 2024: the in-house commercial leader of Italy's largest brand, two years into the seat.
Reachability
Needs a trigger
Revisit: January 2027, three years in the seat · Location model B
What would move them
His own P&L after eighteen years selling one brand through dealers; the first top seat.
The trigger
An outsider from Ferrari was put over him as general manager in May 2025; his next step at Azimut is the group, not the brand. A second year under the new general manager is the trigger.
The route, and the location model
Through the dealer network he built, or direct in Monaco or at the Düsseldorf show. A dealer-model seller is an export seat; a resident yard director beside him.
AgeAbout 43checked against the dated milestones of the profile
Based inItaly
Current seatChief Commercial Officer EMEA-APAC, Azimut Yachts, since 2024
CareerSince 2007, 19 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current)
EducationUniversità degli Studi di Torino Laurea Specialistica · Economia
LanguagesNot given
In brief
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.
From the web
Named chief commercial officer EMEA and APAC in January 2024; quoted by Azimut on new dealers in Indonesia and Australia and on the delivery of the Seadeck 9 (Superyacht24, January 2026). Interviewed by Living in Monaco and UHNW Magazine (September 2026) and on Azimut's Asia-Pacific view (Luxuo, April 2026); a regular at the Shanghai Yachting Festival.
Jad Zakkak Migliorini
Chief Marketing Officer at Azimut Yachts · Turin, Italy
Age37 to 41estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inAvigliana, Italy
Current seatHead of Sales Azimut Grande EMEA-APAC, Azimut Yachts, since 2023
CareerSince 2011, 15 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current)
EducationSAA - 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
LanguagesInglese, Italiano
In brief
Since Dec 2023; Azimut Far East sales since 2018, Seakeeper sales, yacht designer by first training; executive MBA.
Marco Tommaso Coiatelli
Benetti Custom Engineering Director at Azimut|Benetti Group · Livorno, Italy
Age44 to 48estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inLivorno, Italy
Current seatBenetti Custom Engineering Director, Azimut Yachts, since 2025
CareerSince 2008, 18 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current); Benetti (earlier)
EducationMIP Politecnico di Milano Master of Business Administration - MBA · Executive MBA; Università degli Studi di Genova Laurea Magistrale in Ingegneria Navale
LanguagesNot given
In brief
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.
Alessandro Sodero
Process Engineering Manager at Azimut Yachts · Turin, Italy
AgeAbout 46checked against the dated milestones of the profile
Based inTurin, Italy
Current seat Process Engineering Manager, Azimut Yachts, since 2026
CareerSince 2004, 22 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current); Sanlorenzo (earlier)
EducationPolitecnico di Torino Laurea Magistrale · Ingegneria gestionale/Gestione industria
LanguagesNot given
In brief
Process engineering manager since Jan 2026 after fit-out head and project manager seats; ran a Sanlorenzo plant 2015 to 2019; Turin engineer, about 46.
EC
Enzo Costa
Head of Project Management | Azimut Headquarters at Azimut Yachts · Turin, Italy
AgeAbout 47checked against the dated milestones of the profile
Based inTurin, Italy
Current seatHead of Project Management | Azimut Headquarters, Azimut Yachts, since 2018
CareerSince 2002, 24 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current)
EducationSDA Bocconi Finance for non finance manager (Lettura e Analisi del Bilan; SDA Bocconi Project Management (Tutti i Numeri del Progetto)
LanguagesNot given
In brief
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.
Alfredo M Pugliese
Head of Manufacturing | Sito di Avigliana | Produzione | Operations at Azimut Yachts · Turin, Italy
Age42 to 46estimate from the degree years on the profile
Based inTurin, Italy
Current seatHead of Manufacturing | Sito di Avigliana | Produzione | Operations, Azimut Yachts, since 2024
CareerSince 2003, 23 years
Builders on the CVAzimut Yachts (current)
EducationPolitecnico di Torino MASIEO - Master Of Advanced Studies in Engineering and Opera; Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana ( Master di II Livello in Ingegneria dei Processi Industriali
LanguagesFrancese, Inglese, Italiano
In brief
Since Sep 2024 from Tenneco and Denso automotive production.
Simone Mattioli
Fano Site Manager at Azimut Yachts · Pesaro, Italy
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
