Paolo Vitelli, a prominent entrepreneur and founder of the Azimut Benetti group, an Italian leader in shipbuilding, passed away today at the age of 77 in his residence in Valle d'Aosta, where he was on vacation. According to initial reconstructions, his death was attributable to a domestic accident.
Born in Turin in 1947, Vitelli has had a career that has ranged from entrepreneurship to politics. Between 2013 and 2015 he was a member of parliament, elected on the “Scelta Civica con Monti per l'Italia” list. In 1969 he founded Azimut, a company specializing in the trade and construction of pleasure boats. In 1985 he acquired the Benetti shipyards, contributing to the relaunch of the company and consolidating it as Azimut/Benetti.
Today the group, led by his daughter Giovanna since 2023, employs around 2.500 people and operates in six shipyards located in Piedmont, Liguria, Tuscany, Marche and Brazil. Under the Azimut and Benetti brands, the company produces yachts and motorboats ranging in length from 9 to 110 meters, exporting 95% of its production to 70 countries.
In addition to sailing, Vitelli has been involved in other projects, such as the construction of tourist ports in Italy and abroad, and the management of a small chain of boutique hotels in France and the Aosta Valley.
