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