A new leadership chapter for Italy’s cultural and creative luxury industry
Giovanna Vitelli, President of Azimut|Benetti Group, has been officially designated as the future President of Fondazione Altagamma for the 2026–2028 term. The appointment was announced on December 11, 2025, following the Assembly of Members held in Milan, and will take effect on June 1, 2026, succeeding Matteo Lunelli, who has led the Foundation since 2020.
This designation marks a significant transition for Altagamma, the organization representing Italy’s high-end cultural and creative industry, and further highlights the strategic role of luxury yachting within the Made in Italy excellence system.
A strategic choice ensuring continuity and vision
Giovanna Vitelli’s appointment was proposed by Altagamma’s Council of Sages, composed of Santo Versace, Leonardo Ferragamo and Claudio Luti, leading figures in Italian industry and creativity. The decision ensures a structured and coherent leadership transition, aligned with the Foundation’s mission to promote Italian excellence, uniqueness and lifestyle worldwide.
With her mandate beginning in June 2026, the transition period will allow for continuity in strategy, projects and international relations already in place.
Giovanna Vitelli: Professional Background
Graduated in Law, Giovanna Vitelli practiced corporate law at Bonelli, Erede & Pappalardo until 2004. In the same year, she joined the family business founded in 1969 by her father, Azimut|Benetti, playing a key role in its international growth.
After becoming Vice President in 2016, she was appointed President of the Group in 2023. In 2025, Azimut|Benetti was confirmed as the world’s leading megayacht builder for the 26th consecutive year, according to the Global Order Book 2026, reinforcing Italy’s global leadership in luxury yachting.
Leadership in Luxury Yachting and High-End Hospitality
Beyond her role at Azimut|Benetti, Giovanna Vitelli holds prominent positions within the international yachting industry, including President of Marina di Varazze and Vice President of SYBASS, the association representing the world’s leading superyacht builders.
She is also an entrepreneur in the luxury hospitality sector, with iconic properties such as Hôtellerie de Mascognaz in Italy’s Aosta Valley and the Grand Hotel des Alpes in Chamonix, reflecting a hospitality vision rooted in authenticity and sense of place.
Since 2023, she has been an active member of Altagamma as Vice President for the Yachting Sector, and since 2018 she has served as Honorary Consul of Norway for Piedmont and Aosta Valley. In 2024, she received the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Altagamma and the value of Italian High-End Industry
Founded in 1992, Fondazione Altagamma brings together 124 leading Italian brands across seven key sectors: fashion, design, jewelry, food & beverage, hospitality, automotive and yachting. Its uniqueness lies in its cross-sector approach, positioning Italy as an integrated cultural and industrial ecosystem.
Italy’s high-end industry generates €115 billion, contributes 7.4% of national GDP, accounts for 53% of exports, and supports more than 402,000 jobs, both direct and indirect. These figures confirm the strategic importance of the luxury and creative industries for Italy’s economic development and global reputation.
A Presidency looking to the future of Made in Italy
Giovanna Vitelli’s appointment as President of Altagamma sends a clear message about the future of Italian luxury, creative industry leadership and Made in Italy excellence. Her background in high-end yachting reinforces Altagamma’s transversal vision and strengthens its ability to address global market challenges while preserving the core values of quality, craftsmanship and Italian identity.
