For more than twenty years at the head of the most famous Italian automaker Ferrari in Maranello, Luca di Montezemolo is a skilled manager, well-known for his sophisticated style and recently founder of a political movement.
What are the origins and the story of this man that has brought Ferrari to become the most famous brand in the world?
Born in Bologna in 1947 to an aristocratic family, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo graduated in Law at “La Sapienza University” in Rome in 1971, he then specialized in International Commercial Law at the Columbia University in New York.
His passion for cars began very early, therefore in 1973 he worked as assistant to Enzo Ferrari and became soon Team Manager of the Maranello racing team.
He left Ferrari in 1977 to work at Fiat as Senior Vice President of the External Relations, later he served as Chief Executive Officer at ITEDI, the holding company of Fiat in charge of all publishing activities of the Group including that of newspaper “la Stampa.”
In 1982, Montezemolo worked as Chief Executive Officer of Cinzano International and was also in charge of organizing the participation of Azzurra Challenge, the first Italian yacht to compete in the America’s Cup.
In 1984, he bacame Director general of the Organizing Committee of the 1990 Italian World Cup Football Championship.
In 1991, Montezemolo worked again at Ferrari as Chairman and CEO, a role that he played showing much fondness for sport and great wisdom in management.
Under his leadership and with Michael Schumacher, Ferrari won World Championship Formula 1 again in 2000, the first time since 1979.
In 2004, Financial Times mentioned him as one of the best manager of the world. He is also founder of Charme, a financial fund which was used in 2003 to acquire Poltrona Frau and in 2004 Ballantyne.
Other positions Montezemolo held include: Chairman of Italian Newspapers Editors Association (FIEG), Unicredit Bank board member, as well as board member of the most important French TV channel TF1,and CEO of RCS Video.
From 2003 to 2008 he was president of Confindustria (confederation of Italian industry owners.)
In 2010, Luca di Montezemolo left Fiat chairman office to John Elkann, 34 year old first born of Margherita Agnelli and her former husband Alain Elkann.