Paolo Vitelli awarded Boat Builder Award for Business Achievement at METS 2015

Azimut Benetti’s owner and president Paolo Vitelli won the inaugural Boat Builder Awards for Business Achievement at the prize-giving gala during the METS 2015.
The careers and contributions of leading nautical entrepreneurs were evaluated by a jury composed of nine journalists from the IBI (International Boat Industry) magazine and of industry experts of Amsterdam’s METS, the world’s largest marine equipment trade show.
After a detailed review of Vitelli’s personal milestones and those of Azimut Benetti, the jury gave him the first award of its kind.
Paolo Vitelli started a yacht-chartering business, Azimut Srl, in 1969 while he was still an Economy student at University. Thanks to the positive response of many famous yacht brands, his business soon after evolved into Azimut Yachts, expanding its operations from chartering to yacht design. In 1985 Azimut acquired Fratelli Benetti, an historical brand based in Viareggio, with an experience in boatbuilding dating back to 1873. After acquiring Benetti yard and Gobbi boatbuilding company, Azimut Benetti began to build its own yachts, defining new industry standards and style. Numerous business successes and a clever investment policy lead Azimut Benetti to be considered a world leader in boatbuilding.
Paolo Vitelli, also represented the whole Italian nautical industry: from 1998 to 2006, he was president of UCINA (Italian national union of shipyards and similar nautical industries). His company was awarded best Italian company for growth, innovation and internationality by Confindustria in 2007.
In his acceptance speech, Vitelli outlined the need for a dream, a driving passion and a firm commitment in order to be a succesful entrepreneur, as well as ‘a pinch of positive madness’. He also encouraged young people to take on even greater professional challenges than his, without fear.