Ernesto Bertarelli

Ernesto Bertarelli is a Swiss-Italian billionaire businessman, investor, and champion yachtsman. He is best known for transforming the Serono pharmaceutical company into a global biotech leader and for his dominant success in the America's Cup with the Alinghi syndicate. His diverse career spans the biotechnology industry, competitive sailing, and significant philanthropic endeavors through the Bertarelli Foundation.

Early life and education

Born in Rome, he is the son of Fabio Bertarelli, who led the family's pharmaceutical interests. The family relocated to Switzerland, where he was raised and later pursued his higher education. He earned a degree in business from Babson College in the United States, followed by a Master of Business Administration from the prestigious Harvard Business School. This educational foundation in Massachusetts provided the strategic acumen he would later apply to the family business.

Business career

His business career is most closely associated with the biotechnology firm Serono, originally founded by his grandfather. After completing his MBA, he joined the company and succeeded his father as chief executive officer in the late 1990s. Under his leadership, Serono grew into the world's third-largest biotechnology company, with key products in the fields of reproductive health and multiple sclerosis. In a landmark deal for the European biotechnology sector, he orchestrated the company's sale to the German pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA in 2006 for a substantial sum. Following this exit, he has focused on managing the family's investment office, Waypoint Capital, with interests spanning private equity, venture capital, and life sciences.

Yachting and sailing

His passion for competitive sailing has yielded extraordinary success on the global stage. In 2000, he founded the Alinghi sailing syndicate, which challenged for the America's Cup. In 2003, Alinghi, representing the Société Nautique de Genève, famously defeated Team New Zealand in Auckland to win the trophy, bringing the America's Cup to Europe for the first time in its long history. His team successfully defended the cup in 2007 in Valencia, Spain, against Team New Zealand again. He has also achieved major victories in offshore racing, including the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Bol d'Or on Lake Geneva, often sailing aboard his maxi yachts.

Philanthropy

Together with his wife, he established the Bertarelli Foundation, which focuses on two primary areas: marine conservation and life sciences research. In marine science, the foundation has been instrumental in creating large-scale Marine Protected Areas, notably supporting the British Indian Ocean Territory marine reserve. In healthcare, the foundation funds collaborative research into neuroscience and sensory disorders, particularly at institutions like Harvard Medical School. The foundation also contributes to local community projects in Switzerland and supports various cultural and educational initiatives.

Personal life

He is married to former Miss United Kingdom Kirsty Roper, and the couple has three children. The family divides their time between residences in Switzerland, London, and Gstaad. An avid sportsman beyond sailing, he enjoys skiing and other outdoor pursuits. His significant art collection and patronage of the arts, along with his ownership of notable properties like a historic estate on Lake Geneva, are also aspects of his personal life. He holds both Swiss and Italian citizenship.

Category:Swiss businesspeople Category:Italian businesspeople Category:Yachtsmen Category:Philanthropists