Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio
{{Short description|Italian businessman (born 1953)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio
| image = Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio.jpg
| image_size =
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| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1953|04|30|df=yes}}
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| nationality = Italian
| education = Sapienza University of Rome (dropped out)
| occupation = Businessman
| known for =
| title = Chairman, Silversea Cruises
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| spouse = Divorced
| children = 1 daughter
| parents = Antonio Lefebvre d'Ovidio
Eugenia Beck
| relatives =
| website =
}}
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio (born 30 April 1953) is an Italian billionaire businessman. He is the former Executive Chairman 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.
Currently he is the Executive Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group, the travel conglomerate that owns Abercrombie & Kent, Crystal Cruises, Ecoventura Galapagos, Cox & Kings.
As of August 2023, his net worth was estimated at US$1.6 billion.{{cite web |title=Forbes profile: Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/manfredi-lefebvre-dovidio/ |website=Forbes |access-date=29 August 2022}}
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.{{cite web|title=Antonio Lefebvre Dovidio Dies Age 98|url=http://www.travelagentcentral.com/cruises/silversea-founder-antonio-lefebvre-dovidio-dies-age-98-26791|publisher=Travel Agent Central}}
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.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} In 1988 they purchased control of Sitmar Cruises from the Vlasov family and in 1989, merged it with P&O's Princess Cruises unit.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} Silversea Cruises was founded in 1994 by his father with two ships purpose-built for the line, the Silver Cloud and the Silver Wind.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} Lefebvre d'Ovidio led Silversea through his board position before being named chairman in 2001.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} By that time, it added two more vessels (Silver Whisper and Silver Shadow) making it a four ship fleet.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
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.{{cite web|title=Why Silversea?|url=http://www.silversea.com/why-silversea/awards/|publisher=Silversea Cruises}}
He was the sole owner of Silversea,{{cite web|url=https://www.luxurytraveladvisor.com/cruises/exclusive-interview-and-update-from-silversea-s-manfredi-lefebvre-roberto-martinoli-mark|title=Exclusive: Update from Silversea's Manfredi Lefebvre, Roberto Martinoli & Mark Conroy - Luxury Travel Advisor|author=|date=21 November 2016|website=www.luxurytraveladvisor.com|access-date=14 August 2018}} until June 2018, when Royal Caribbean agreed to pay about US$1 billion for a two-thirds stake in the company.{{cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/royal-caribbean-to-pay-1-billion-for-a-two-thirds-stake-in-silversea-cruises-2018-06-14|title=Royal Caribbean to pay $1 billion for a two-thirds stake in Silversea Cruises|first=Tomi|last=Kilgore|date=|website=marketwatch.com|access-date=14 August 2018}} In August 2018, Bloomberg assessed Lefebvre d'Ovidio as a billionaire.{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-06/for-these-billionaires-it-s-all-about-cruise-fleets |title=For These Billionaires, It's All About Cruise Fleets |author= |date=6 August 2018 |website=www.bloomberg.com |access-date=1 November 2018}}
{{Cite web|url=https://www.abercrombiekent.com/news/press-releases/2022/06/22/ak-travel-group-ltd-acquires-crystal-serenity-and-crystal-symphony|title=A&K Travel Group Ltd. Acquires Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony|website=Abercrombie & Kent}} 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{{Cite web|url=https://issuu.com/aiim/docs/monaco_imprese_n_48sp/s/11616738|title=MONACO IMPRESE|website=issuu}}Exclusive: Update from Silversea's Manfredi Lefebvre, Roberto Martinoli & Mark Conroy - Luxury Travel Advisor, suTomi Kilgore, Royal Caribbean to pay $1 billion for a two-thirds stake in Silversea Cruises, su marketwatch.com.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/royal-acquista-100percento-silversea-lefebvre-diventa-azionista-gruppo-usa-ADVmfxd|title=Royal acquista il 100% di Silversea. Lefebvre diventa azionista del gruppo Usa|date=13 July 2020|website=Il Sole 24 ORE}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Manfredi Lefebvre Said To Be Behind Crystal Cruises Ship Purchase - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022/06/manfredi-lefebvre-said-to-be-behind-crystal-cruises-ship-purchase/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=cruiseindustrynews.com |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190403005215/en/Heritage-Group-Led-by-Manfredi-Lefebvre-Has-Made-a-Major-Investment-in-Return-for-a-75-Equity-Interest-in-Bucksense-Inc.|title=Heritage Group Led by Manfredi Lefebvre Has Made a Major Investment in Return for a 75% Equity Interest in Bucksense Inc.|date=3 April 2019|website=www.businesswire.com}}
Personal life
He resides in Monte Carlo, Monaco, where Silversea is headquartered.{{cite web | url = https://www.monacolifestylemagazine.com/2017/04/23/silversea-christens-new-flagship-silver-muse/ | title = Silversea christens new flagship Silver Muse | date = 23 April 2017 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20190730134059/https://www.monacolifestylemagazine.com/2017/04/23/silversea-christens-new-flagship-silver-muse/ | archive-date = 30 July 2019 | url-status = live | access-date = 30 July 2019 }} He is divorced, with one daughter, Costanza.{{cite web|url=http://www.seatrade-cruise.com/news/news-headlines/silver-muse-godmother-is-manfredi-lefebvre-s-daughter.html|title=Silver Muse godmother is Manfredi Lefebvre's daughter|first=Anne|last=Kalosh|date=4 April 2017|website=seatrade-cruise.com|access-date=14 August 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2017/04/20/silversea-cruises-silver-muse-christened/100685156/|title=The year's most luxurious new cruise ship christened in Monaco|author=|date=|website=usatoday.com|access-date=14 August 2018}}
Cruise industry advocacy
Lefebvre d'Ovidio was a key driver of the unification of the European cruise industry{{cite web | url = http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_maritime_transport/euc_2_en.pdf | title = Te cruise industry: a leader in Europe's economic recovery | pages = 1, 19 | language = en | website = European Commission | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190610090008/http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2012_maritime_transport/euc_2_en.pdf/ | archive-date = 10 June 2019 | url-status = live}} as chairman of the European Cruise Council (ECC) since 2010.{{cite web | url = http://www.ship2shore.it/en/sections/european-cruise-industry-changes-its-helm_42181.htm | title = European cruise industry changes its helm | date = 19 April 2010 | website = ship2shore.it | archive-url = https://archive.today/20190730135115/http://www.ship2shore.it/en/sections/european-cruise-industry-changes-its-helm_42181.htm | archive-date = 30 July 2019 | url-status = live | access-date = 30 July 2019}}
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.{{cite web | url = https://www.cliaeurope.eu/~cliaeurope/images/downloads/press_2013/CLIA_Europe_press_release_CLIA_Europe_new_Chairman.pdf | title = Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio to complete term as CLIA Europe Chairman at year end, passes the helm to Pierfrancesco Vago | date = 9 October 2013 | location = Brussels | page = 1 | access-date = 30 July 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190730132659/https://www.cliaeurope.eu/~cliaeurope/images/downloads/press_2013/CLIA_Europe_press_release_CLIA_Europe_new_Chairman.pdf/ | archive-date = 30 July 2019 | url-status = live}} He remains on the board of CLIA Global and serves as chairman of CLIA Europe.{{cite web|title=CruiseTravel CLIA-European Cruise Council adopt three new safety policies|url=http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/CLIA-European-Cruise-Council-adopt-three-new-safety-policies/|publisher=Travel Weekly}} 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).{{cite web|title=Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio|url=http://www.ultratravelforum.com/ManfredidOvidio.html|publisher=Ultra Travel Forum|access-date=22 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216211653/http://www.ultratravelforum.com/ManfredidOvidio.html|archive-date=16 February 2017|url-status=dead}}
Crystal Ships could belong to him.{{cite web | url=https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/27719-manfredi-lefebvre-said-to-be-behind-crystal-cruises-ship-purchase.html | title=Manfredi Lefebvre Said to be Behind Crystal Cruises Ship Purchase | date=21 June 2022 }}
References
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Category:Italian businesspeople