Profile

He graduated in electrical engineering at Polytechnic of Turin in 1958. One year later he began to work in business family specialized in pipes.

In 1972, he became the CEO of the company, and soon attracted attention of Giovanni Agnelli, Fiat Boss. In 1976 he appointed him as Director General and gave him 6% stake in Fiat Group. But after 3 months Carlo resigned because of misunderstanding with boss. He resold the share, and with profits he acquired CIR, the first acquisition of a long serie.

The “ingegnere” (his nickname the “engineer”) acquired a stake in Olivetti in 1978, the revenues rose to $5 billion in 1986 from “only” one billion in 1978, then he bought stake in Valeo, and “La Repubblica” the second daily in Italy and the weekly “L’espresso”. He bought also 25% of Yves Saint Laurent.

Carlo De Benedetti founded the company CIR, which became over the last 25 years one of the largest holding companies in Italy, listed on Milan Stock Exchange and employing over 10 000 people.

The most important activities of the holding are Espresso (which operates in the media, radio, digital television, news, etc…), Sogefi (automotive components) and in the energy sector.

He was considered guilty for fraudulent bankruptcy in the scandal of Banco Ambrosiano. This case represents one of the largest international financial scandals, and also one of the stories more intrigued in the 80’s.

He became famous worldwide, in 1988 when he tried a raid on the Belgian company Generale, the biggest industrial company in the Country. Advised by Alan Minc, CEO of Cerus (French holding company of Carlo De Benedetti), the raid failed for the benefit of Suez. This operation hangs on him the nickname of “condottiero” (Head of Roman army).

In 1991, he started a long battle with Silvio Berlusconi to control the largest publisher Mondadori, a battle ended with a victory of Silvio Berlusconi, even if recently was sentenced by tribunal to pay to Carlo De Benedetti a count of €750 million.

De Benedetti will also know for the bankruptcy of one of his banks, Dumenil-Leblé, led by French Jacques Letertre. The bank involved in a fraud in Switzerland, is also the cause of Cerus’s collapse. Dumenil-Leblé was liquidated in 1996.

On 26 January 2009 he announced his departure from all companies.

This native of the Turin’s middle class practiced modern capitalism eclipsing the traditional industrial aristocracy as Agnelli family.

Carlo de Benedetti active positions

CompaniesPositionStart
CIR S.P.A. - COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIALI RIUNITE Founder 1976-12-21
Corporate Officer/Principal -
Director/Board Member -
Director/Board Member -
Chairman 2005-12-31
Fondazione Together To Go Onlus Founder 2010-12-31
INSEAD Corporate Officer/Principal -
Corporate Officer/Principal -
Fondazione Rodolfo Debenedetti Founder 2010-04-25
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All active positions of Carlo de Benedetti

Former positions of Carlo de Benedetti

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See the detail of Carlo de Benedetti's experience

Training of Carlo de Benedetti

Politecnico di Torino Undergraduate Degree

Experiences
Positions held

Active

Inactive

Listed companies

Private companies

See the detail of Carlo de Benedetti's experience

Connections

100 +

1st degree connections

21

1st degree companies

Male

Female

Members of the board

Executives

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Linked companies

Listed companies1
CIR S.P.A. - COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIALI RIUNITE

Producer Manufacturing

Private companies18

Consumer Durables

Consumer Services

Finance

Finance

Miscellaneous

Commercial Services

Communications

Finance

Finance

Finance

Commercial Services

European Round Table of Industrialists

Commercial Services

Commercial Services

Fondazione Rodolfo Debenedetti

Commercial Services

Commercial Services

Fondazione Together To Go Onlus

See company connections
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