Piero Ferrari

Piero Ferrari
Città di Modena · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Piero Ferrari
Birth date	22 May 1945
Birth place	Milan, Kingdom of Italy
Nationality	Italian
Occupation	Vice Chairman of Ferrari N.V., businessman, engineer
Parents	Enzo Ferrari, Laura Dominica Garello

Piero Ferrari Piero Ferrari is an Italian industrialist and engineering executive, best known as the vice chairman and a major shareholder of Ferrari N.V.. He is the son of Enzo Ferrari and has played a central role in the modern corporate development of Ferrari S.p.A. and in broader Italian and international automotive industry networks. Ferrari has been involved in high-performance motorsport governance, strategic investment through Exor (company), and philanthropy tied to Modena and Maranello industrial heritage.

Early life and education

Born in Milan in 1945 during the closing months of World War II, Piero grew up in the postwar landscape shaped by Enzo Ferrari's automotive enterprises in Modena and Maranello. His mother, Laura Dominica Garello, and his father’s later marriage to Dina Loria framed a family life linked to Scuderia Ferrari and the evolution of Ferrari S.p.A.. He pursued technical studies and training related to mechanical engineering, drawing on traditions from institutions and workshops in Emilia-Romagna and practical apprenticeships that connected him to facilities such as the Ferrari factory and racing operations affiliated with Formula One and World Sportscar Championship teams. During his formative years he encountered figures from the automotive engineering community and Italian industrial circles including executives from Fiat and engineers who worked with Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini, and Maserati.

Career at Ferrari

Ferrari's professional trajectory became closely associated with Ferrari S.p.A. operations in Maranello, where he contributed to product development, factory management, and strategic planning alongside leaders who had worked with Enzo Ferrari and later with executives connected to Domenicali family-era management and successors from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles leadership. He held executive roles that interfaced with Scuderia Ferrari engineering, powertrain programs, and road car product lines that competed with marques such as McLaren, Porsche, Lamborghini, and Aston Martin. His tenure overlapped with pivotal events like the partial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange and corporate actions influenced by stakeholders including Fiat S.p.A., Exor (company), and global investors. He worked with technical directors and designers who had backgrounds at Ferrari F1, Maranello's test track, and supplier networks linked to Magneti Marelli and Brembo.

Business ventures and investments

Beyond operational roles at Ferrari S.p.A., he participated in diverse investments and boards spanning automotive, real estate, and cultural projects in Italy and internationally. His portfolio management and minority shareholdings intersected with corporate groups such as Exor (company), investment vehicles associated with Agnelli family interests, and collaborations touching firms like CNH Industrial, Stellantis, and specialty suppliers including Pirelli and Schaeffler. He has engaged with institutions preserving motorsport heritage, connecting with museums like the Museo Ferrari, charitable foundations, and regional development initiatives in Modena and Parma. His activities brought him into contact with private equity, sovereign investors, and banking entities such as Intesa Sanpaolo and UniCredit that underpin industrial transactions.

Role in Fiat Chrysler/Exor and corporate governance

As a significant shareholder and vice chairman, he has influenced corporate governance at Ferrari N.V. and participated in boards and shareholder meetings involving Exor (company), the holding company linked to the Agnelli family. His position required engagement with regulatory regimes in Italy and markets like the United States and the European Union, interfacing with governance frameworks that shaped leadership decisions at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (later Stellantis). He worked with chairpersons, chief executive officers, and institutional investors during restructuring, spin-offs, and public listing processes, aligning strategic direction with partners including Banco BPM, Mediobanca, and international asset managers. His governance role also connected to motorsport governance bodies, commercial partners, and licensing deals with global brands.

Personal life and interests

Piero's personal life reflects a deep connection to motorsport culture, collector communities, and regional patronage in Emilia-Romagna. He has cultivated relationships with drivers, team principals, and engineers from Formula One and sports car racing eras, including acquaintances from Scuderia Ferrari alumni and rival teams such as Williams, Mercedes-AMG Petronas, and Red Bull Racing. He supports cultural institutions, automotive museums, and restoration projects for historic vehicles, engaging with collectors and auction houses in Monaco, Milan, and London. His interests include preservation of industrial heritage in towns like Modena and participation in events such as the Goodwood Festival of Speed and Mille Miglia.

Honors and recognitions

Throughout his career he has received honors from Italian and international institutions acknowledging contributions to industry, culture, and sport. These recognitions align with awards and orders often bestowed by entities such as the Italian Republic, regional authorities in Emilia-Romagna, and motorsport bodies connected to Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile circles. He has been associated with lifetime achievement acknowledgments within automotive journalism, museum dedications, and honorary roles in local and national organizations that celebrate industrial design, automotive engineering, and motorsport legacy.

Category:Italian businesspeople Category:Ferrari people Category:Living people Category:1945 births