Benetton family
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion, Financial holding |
| Founded | 1965 in Treviso, Veneto, Italy |
| Founder | Four Benetton siblings |
| Headquarters | Treviso , Italy |
| Products | Fashion apparel, knitwear |
| Parent | Edizione S.r.l. |
Four siblings from the Italian Benetton family established the Benetton Group S.p.A. fashion enterprise in 1965. Originating from Treviso, Veneto, Italy, the three brothers and one sister broadened their commercial ventures via Edizione, a financial holding entity that owns significant shares in various prominent companies. Among these holdings are a 30% stake in Atlantia S.p.A., which manages nearly two-thirds of Italy's highway network, a 60% interest in Autogrill, a major roadside dining chain, and investments within the hospitality industry, including the Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal located in Venice.
- Luciano Benetton (born 1935) acts as a non-executive director on the board of Benetton Group and serves on Edizione S.r.l.'s board as well. He was a member of the Italian Senate between 1992 and 1994. Luciano has five children residing in Treviso.
- Giuliana Benetton (born 1937) holds board positions at both Edizione S.r.l. and Benetton Group. She was instrumental in the development of products, particularly knitwear, which was foundational to the family's enterprise. Giuliana is mother to four children.
- Gilberto Benetton (1941–2018) led Edizione S.r.l. as chairman, managing its financial and real estate portfolios. Additionally, he chaired Autogrill and served on the boards of Benetton Group, Atlantia S.p.A., Mediobanca, Pirelli S.p.A., and Allianz. Gilberto had two children living in Treviso.
- Carlo Benetton (1943–2018) fulfilled the role of deputy chairman at both Edizione S.r.l. and Benetton Group, overseeing production operations and international coordination efforts. He fathered five children who live in Treviso. Carlo succumbed to cancer in 2018.
The next generation
The subsequent generation of leadership within the family includes Franca Benetton, Alessandro Benetton, Sabrina Benetton, and Christian Benetton, all serving as directors of Edizione S.r.l., the primary family holding company.
- Alessandro Benetton, born on 2 March 1964 in Treviso and eldest son of Luciano Benetton, earned a Bachelor of Science from Boston University followed by an MBA at Harvard Business School. His early career involved working as a global finance analyst at Goldman Sachs in London before founding the merchant bank "21 Investimenti S.p.A." in 1993, where he remains chairman. In 2004, Alessandro was appointed deputy chairman of Benetton Group with a focus on growth initiatives in East Asia, notably China and India. Presently, he chairs Benetton Group and sits on Autogrill's board, while also contributing to advisory boards such as Robert Bosch Internationale Beteiligungen and Confindustria. He is a father to three children.
- Rocco Benetton, born 29 September 1969 in Treviso and also son of Luciano and Maria Teresa Benetton, pursued mechanical engineering studies at Boston University. His professional experience includes roles at New York hedge funds like Oppenheimer & Co. and Alpha Investment Management, where he served as managing director. Between 1997 and 2000, Rocco managed the Benetton Formula One team. Upon returning to Treviso, he founded Zero Rh+ and Oot Group companies and briefly joined Banca del Gottardo Italia's board in 2003.