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Gloria Fung

The latest instalment in our On Work/On Play series with luxury CEOs. This month: Franco Fusignani, CEO of luxury superyacht builder Benetti
Job Experience
2017-present: Promoted from director of operations to CEO of Benetti
2013-2016: CEO of Fiat’s Iveco diesel engine division
1975-2013: Various roles at Fiat Group
ON PLAY
Q. What are some of your favourite yachting destinations?
A. The Mediterranean Sea is one of my favourite yachting destinations.
Q. W hat else do you like to do to relax aside from yachting?
A. Aside from yachting, I like spending time with my family and immersing myself in nature.
Which 10 countries have the most superyachts off their coastlines?
Q. How do you continue to stay inspired and motivated at work?
A. I always work a lot in my life so it is normal to spend most of my time concentrating on achieving the best possible results for my company. It is also necessary to never be tired of acquiring experience. To experiment and try again and again are fundamental traits of my personality.
ON WORK
Q. How is Benetti trying to lower the carbon footprint of superyachts?
A. We have recently signed a deal with Siemens for the E-Mode: an auxiliary propulsion system with electric motors working in parallel with the main diesel engines. Thanks to a plug-in system, the E-Mode can be added easily to a standard propulsive architecture, which means Benetti can propose it as an optional refit to its clients. The pack is properly sized to guarantee efficient propulsion and to supply all the on-board utilities [guaranteeing] the guests’ maximum comfort. With this innovative system, the yachts will be saving up to 15 per cent of fuel, which also means [fewer] emissions.

Q. What are some of the changes you want to see in Benetti and the industry as a whole?
A. All the technical improvements are part of Benetti’s plan to deliver yachts that can guarantee a lower impact on the environment, whether from a reduction in noises and vibrations, or a reduction in fuel consumption due to the lower weights – a commitment that the shipyard is pursuing not only to offer its clients the best products possible, also from an environmental-friendly point of view. Benetti strongly believes that sustainability is a subject that can no longer be ignored.
Which superyachts got a ‘Boat International’ Design & Innovation award?
Q. There are numerous luxury yacht builders. What standards do you apply to Benetti in terms of luxury fittings and comfort?
A. Our yachts feature an incredibly high level of the latest technology in terms of domotics, audio and video systems, propulsion and stabilisation systems. Thanks to the shipyard’s location in Livorno and Viareggio, Benetti can also deliver the best ‘made in Italy’ experience and products to its clients to allow them to enjoy the nature and historical sites of Tuscany.
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Q. Tell us about some of the larger yachts Benetti is currently building. Are there any record-breakers?
A. One of the most important records in the industry is the Benetti Giga Season, a period of great excitement and activity for the shipyard where in exactly 100 days we launched three Giga yachts, each one with a length of 100-plus metres. During this time, we estimated that around 800 workers joined the Livorno facility daily, for a total of around 5 million working hours.

Q. What part of your job and role at Benetti excites you the most?
A. There are a lot of aspects of my job that excite me, but the best one is to be able to act as the system integrator and facilitator. I’m heavily involved [in] introducing new processes when it comes to the planning and engineering of our boats, figuring out the best way to collaborate with clients and suppliers and optimising production time. Basically, I am a process- and product-quality guy.
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Superyachts are one mark of the overindulgent rich and famous but Benetti’s CEO Franco Fusignani believes reducing its carbon footprint is paramount


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How Benetti’s luxury superyachts are sailing towards a sustainable future

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Superyachts are one mark of the overindulgent rich and famous but Benetti’s CEO Franco Fusignani believes reducing its carbon footprint is paramount

Superyachts are one mark of the overindulgent rich and famous but Benetti’s CEO Franco Fusignani believes reducing its carbon footprint is paramount