Residence Geneva, Switzerland Net worth 8.1 billion USD (2015) Role Businessman | Name Gianluigi Aponte Nationality Italian Ex-spouse Raffaela Denat | |
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Alma mater Istituto Tecnico Nautico Statale Nino Bixio Children Diego Aponte, Alexa Aponte Vago Parents Gina Gatti, Aniello Aponte Similar People Vincenzo Onorato, Lorella Landi, Jacques Saade, Ettore Morace, Stefano Pessina | ||
Gianluigi Aponte ([dʒanluˌiːdʒi aˈponte]; born 27 June 1940) is an Italian businessman, founder, owner and chairman of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the second-largest container shipping line in the world after Maersk.
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Early life
Gianluigi Aponte was born in Sant'Agnello, Italy (near Sorrento, Naples) 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. 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.
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.
In October 2013, he received Containerisation International’s Lifetime Achievement Award as well as a knighthood, Order of Merit for Labour, from Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. In 2014, Aponte and his family were named among the 10 most influential people in the shipping industry according to Lloyds List.