Paolo Vitelli, who founded Azimut Yachts in the 1960s and was president of the Azimut|Benetti Group, has died at 77. Vitelli is mourned by the yachting community after his death earlier this week.
Vitelli was in his early 20s when he founded Azimut Yachts. In the 1980s, he acquired Italian builder Cantieri Benetti and created the Azimut|Benetti Group, recognized today as one of the world’s top yacht builders. Vitelli’s daughter Giovanna has been chair of the group since 2023.
Vitelli was born in Turin, Italy, in 1947. His work has left a legacy on yachting and the marine industry worldwide. Azimut-Benetti Group has yet to release a statement on Vitelli’s death.
