Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio
Born (1953-04-30) 30 April 1953
NationalityMonegasque
EducationSapienza University of Rome (dropped out)
OccupationBusinessman
TitleChairman, Silversea Cruises
SpouseDivorced
Children1 daughter
Parent(s)Antonio Lefebvre d'Ovidio
Eugenia Beck

Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio (born 30 April 1953) is an Italian-born Monegasque billionaire businessman. He is the chairman and former owner of Silversea Cruises, a company founded by his father. In June 2018, he sold two-thirds of the company to Royal Caribbean for US$1 billion, retaining a one-third stake in the company. As of August 2023, his net worth was estimated at US$1.6 billion.[1]

Biography

Lefebvre d'Ovidio grew up in Rome, one of four children born into an Italian family. The son of Antonio Lefebvre d'Ovidio, legal professor and Italian jurist, and Eugenia Beck, of a German family, he was involved in a variety of family businesses from an early age and in 2001 became chairman of luxury cruise line, Silversea Cruises.[2]

Career

His father's background in maritime law, among other industrial interests, led to the family's involvement in shipping and ultimately, in the cruise industry. In 1988 they purchased control of Sitmar Cruises from the Vlasov family and in 1989, merged it with P&O's Princess Cruises unit. Silversea Cruises was founded in 1994 by his father with two ships purpose-built for the line, the Silver Cloud and the Silver Wind. Lefebvre d'Ovidio led Silversea through his board position before being named chairman in 2001. By that time, it added two more vessels (Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow) making it a four ship fleet.

As of 2017 Silversea operates nine vessels on worldwide itineraries that call in all seven continents. It has been recognized as one of the World's best with multiple awards from Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines as well as other travel publications and organizations.[3]

He was the sole owner of Silversea,[4] until June 2018, when Royal Caribbean agreed to pay about US$1 billion for a two-thirds stake in the company.[5] In August 2018, Bloomberg assessed Lefebvre d'Ovidio as a billionaire.[6]

[7] Manfredi Lefebvre D'Ovidio retained sole control of the Silversea from 2001 until June 2018, when Royal Caribbean bought two-thirds of the company's shares. He later stepped down as chairman when the complete takeover was completed, remaining a 2.5% shareholder in Royal Caribbean[8][9][10][11] In 2021, he has executive buyouts in Arqit Quantum, a NASDAQ-listed quantum cryptography company.[14] In June 2022, the Lefebvre D'Ovidio family's Abercrombie&Kent Travel Group (A&K Travel Group) bought Crystal Cruises and its two ocean vessels, Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.[7][12] In the same plan, A&K acquired Cox and King, the world's oldest tour operator and Ecoventura, a company operating its own fleet in the Galapagos Islands. In the same years, the financial group controlled by the Lefèbvre family, Heritage Group, acquired various stakes including 75% of Bucksense Inc, New Cleo, Avatera, Quintessential Beverages, TT, V Dyne, Arqit, Habitas.[13]

Personal life

He resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco,[1] where Silversea is headquartered.[14] He is divorced, with one daughter, Costanza.[1][15][16]

Cruise industry advocacy

Lefebvre d'Ovidio was a key driver of the unification of the European cruise industry[17] as chairman of the European Cruise Council (ECC) since 2010.[18]

He led the merger of that association with the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) of which he has served on the board of directors until 2013.[19] He remains on the board of CLIA Global and serves as chairman of CLIA Europe.[20] He is also active in promoting international tourism efforts as the vice chairman of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in charge for Europe and a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF).[21] Crystal Ships could belong to him.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Forbes profile: Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio". Forbes. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Antonio Lefebvre Dovidio Dies Age 98". Travel Agent Central.
  3. ↑ "Why Silversea?". Silversea Cruises.
  4. ↑ "Exclusive: Update from Silversea's Manfredi Lefebvre, Roberto Martinoli & Mark Conroy - Luxury Travel Advisor". www.luxurytraveladvisor.com. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  5. ↑ Kilgore, Tomi. "Royal Caribbean to pay $1 billion for a two-thirds stake in Silversea Cruises". marketwatch.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "For These Billionaires, It's All About Cruise Fleets". www.bloomberg.com. 6 August 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  7. 1 2 "A&K Travel Group Ltd. Acquires Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony". Abercrombie & Kent.
  8. ↑ "MONACO IMPRESE". issuu.
  9. ↑ Exclusive: Update from Silversea's Manfredi Lefebvre, Roberto Martinoli & Mark Conroy - Luxury Travel Advisor, su
  10. ↑ Tomi Kilgore, Royal Caribbean to pay $1 billion for a two-thirds stake in Silversea Cruises, su marketwatch.com.
  11. ↑ "Royal acquista il 100% di Silversea. Lefebvre diventa azionista del gruppo Usa". Il Sole 24 ORE. 13 July 2020.
  12. ↑ url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27719-manfredi-lefebvre-said-to-be-behind-crystal-cruises-ship-purchase.html
  13. ↑ "Heritage Group Led by Manfredi Lefebvre Has Made a Major Investment in Return for a 75% Equity Interest in Bucksense Inc". www.businesswire.com. 3 April 2019.
  14. ↑ "Silversea christens new flagship Silver Muse". 23 April 2017. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  15. ↑ Kalosh, Anne (4 April 2017). "Silver Muse godmother is Manfredi Lefebvre's daughter". seatrade-cruise.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  16. ↑ "The year's most luxurious new cruise ship christened in Monaco". usatoday.com. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  17. ↑ "Te cruise industry: a leader in Europe's economic recovery" (PDF). European Commission. pp. 1, 19. Archived from the original on 10 June 2019.
  18. ↑ "European cruise industry changes its helm". ship2shore.it. 19 April 2010. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  19. ↑ "Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio to complete term as CLIA Europe Chairman at year end, passes the helm to Pierfrancesco Vago" (PDF). Brussels. 9 October 2013. p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  20. ↑ "CruiseTravel CLIA-European Cruise Council adopt three new safety policies". Travel Weekly.
  21. ↑ "Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio". Ultra Travel Forum. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  22. ↑ "Manfredi Lefebvre Said to be Behind Crystal Cruises Ship Purchase". 21 June 2022.
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