Page 35 - Next Generation 2015 - Digtial Issue

Next Generation Europe

Having been
promoted to president

and chief executive
of MSC last year,
Gianluigi Aponte’s
son is taking over at a
time of considerable

change for the
industry

Switzerland
Diego Aponte

THE youngest members of the Aponte The two have shared an office Mr Aponte Sr is convinced
dynasty hit the headlines this year, for many years, giving Diego the best shipping companies are best in family
as this powerful shipping family possible apprenticeship for the top job. hands.
continued to go from strength to
strength. MSC now operates a fleet of 465 While Diego has focused on the
ships of around 2.4m teu, double the container shipping and ports sectors,
Gianluigi Aponte’s two grandsons capacity of just eight years ago, with his sister Alexa concentrates on the
may still be at school, but they have another 31 on order, including the some cruise line,
already made their mark on the of the largest in the world.
container shipping industry. Diego is taking over at a time of
Diego joined MSC in 1997, first considerable change for the industry,
For the two largest containerships going to sea as a junior engineer, and as container lines group themselves
in service, the 19,224 teu MSC Oscar then joining MSC Ship Management in into four main power blocks.
and MSC Oliver, have been named after Sorrento.
the two youngsters. For a shipowner that has always
Later, at MSC’s headquarters in eschewed partnerships in favour of
However, it is the second Geneva, he worked in all departments, independence and flexibility, the 2M
generation of the Aponte clan that is including the Latin American and US collaboration will not always be easy
now heading Mediterranean Shipping trades. for MSC to manage.
Co, the Geneva-headquartered line
vying for the top spot with its 2M He was instrumental in identifying But that will be Diego’s challenge
partner Maersk Line, another rich, terminals as an investment opportunity as he leads MSC into new territory as a
powerful and family-controlled ship for MSC, and set up Terminal member of the world’s largest vessel-
operator. Investment Ltd in 2000. As chairman of sharing agreement that is already
TIL, he boosted MSC’s bank balance by putting distance between itself and
Now in charge of MSC is Diego $1.9bn through the sale of a 35% stake. the rest of the industry.
Aponte, Gianluigi’s son and Oscar’s
father, who was promoted to president
and chief executive of the company
last year.

That does not mean his father
has retired, though. Those who know
the company well say Mr Aponte Sr,
regarded by many of his peers as one
of the most brilliant shipowners of his
generation, is still closely involved with
the container line in his new role as
group executive chairman, while Diego
focuses more on MSC’s ports division.

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