Luca Cordero di Montezemolo
Born 1947 · Age 78
Italian businessman and motorsport executive; long-time chairman of Ferrari and Fiat, founder/co-founder of several businesses and think tanks, motorsport manager and industry figure.
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Life & Career Timeline
Birth in Bologna, Italy
Born Luca Cordero di Montezemolo into an aristocratic Piedmontese family.
Graduated in law from La Sapienza University
Completed a law degree at La Sapienza University (University of Rome).
Studied international commercial law at Columbia University
Attended Columbia University in New York for master's studies in international commercial law and worked at a New York law firm.
Joined Fiat / Became Enzo Ferrari's assistant
Hired into the FIAT group and invited by Enzo Ferrari to be his personal assistant at Ferrari.
Appointed Sporting Director of Scuderia Ferrari
Named sporting director (manager) of Scuderia Ferrari's racing team.
Ferrari wins F1 World Championship (Niki Lauda)
During Montezemolo's early management involvement Ferrari won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship with Niki Lauda.
Promoted to head of all FIAT racing activities
Elevated to lead all of FIAT's racing operations.
Ferrari wins F1 World Championship (Niki Lauda); promoted at FIAT
Ferrari won another World Championship with Niki Lauda; Montezemolo advanced to a senior management position at FIAT.
Held senior roles across the FIAT group
During the 1980s Montezemolo served in multiple positions across FIAT, including managing director of Cinzano and director of Itedi (publishing).
Managed Team Azzurra's America's Cup challenge
Managed the first Italian yacht club entry into the America's Cup (Team Azzurra).
Manager of the Organizing Committee for 1990 World Cup Italia
Led the Organizing Committee that successfully brought the 1990 FIFA World Cup to Italy.
Joined Formula One board as non‑executive member
Held a non‑executive seat on the Formula One board starting in 1991 (noted as 1991–2014, then again from 2014 onward).
Appointed President of Ferrari
In November 1991 FIAT Chairman Gianni Agnelli appointed Montezemolo president of Ferrari to revive the company after Enzo Ferrari's death.
Instrumental in signing Michael Schumacher to Ferrari
Played a key role in recruiting Michael Schumacher to Ferrari, a move that helped catalyze the team's late-1990s/2000s success.
Received Lorenzo Bandini Trophy
Awarded the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy in recognition of contribution to motorsport (1997).
Became President of Maserati after acquisition
When Ferrari acquired Maserati in 1997, Montezemolo took on Maserati's presidency (held until 2005).
NTV / Italo (co‑founder) — company profile noted
Montezemolo is cited as one of the founders and a former president of NTV (Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori), Europe's first private open access operator of 300 km/h high‑speed trains. (Founding year not explicit in text; included as significant role.)
Ferrari wins Formula One Constructors' Championship
Under Montezemolo and Jean Todt Ferrari won the Constructors' Championship for the first time since 1983.
Marriage to Ludovica Andreoni
Montezemolo married Ludovica Andreoni (marriage recorded as 2000; later separated in 2018).
Ferrari wins Drivers' World Championship (Michael Schumacher)
Ferrari, under Montezemolo's leadership, won the Drivers' Championship in 2000 — the marque's first since 1979.
Elected Chairman of Fiat S.p.A. (late May 2004)
Following the death of Umberto Agnelli (28 May 2004), Montezemolo was elected chairman of Fiat S.p.A., Ferrari's parent company (elected in late May 2004).
Elected President of Confindustria
On 27 May 2004 Montezemolo became president of the Italian employers' federation Confindustria.
Appointed President of LUISS University
On 20 December 2004 Montezemolo became president of LUISS (Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali Guido Carli).
Ended presidency of Maserati (1997–2005)
Concluded his role as president of Maserati, which he had held since Ferrari acquired the marque in 1997.
FOTA presidency (2008–2010)
Served as president of the Formula One Teams Association; led committee meetings to discuss improvements to F1.
Founded Formula One Teams Association (FOTA)
On 29 July 2008 Montezemolo founded FOTA to coordinate team positions on improving Formula One; he presided over it from 2008 to 2010.
Founded 'Future Italy' (Italia Futura) think tank
Created the free-market think tank Future Italy (Italia Futura), later involved in Civic Choice's 2013 election campaign.
Stepped down as FOTA president; replaced by Martin Whitmarsh
Around 2010 Montezemolo was replaced as FOTA president by McLaren CEO Martin Whitmarsh.
Noted as best‑paid executive in Fiat Group (2010)
In 2010 Montezemolo's salary was reported as more than twice that of Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne — making him the best-paid executive in the group at the time.
Replaced as Chairman of Fiat by John Elkann
In April 2010 John Elkann replaced Montezemolo as chairman of Fiat S.p.A.
Reported resignation/exit from NTV board
Cited as having left the board/role at Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV) around 2012 (sources report he quit as chairman in Oct 2012).
Issued a suspended one-year sentence (Anacapri case)
In May 2012 a Naples court issued Montezemolo a suspended sentence of one year for unauthorized construction of his residence in Anacapri.
Quit as chairman of NTV (Italo)
Reportedly stepped down/quit as chairman of Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori (NTV) in October 2012.
Future Italy joined Civic Choice for 2013 election
The think tank Future Italy (founded by Montezemolo) joined the Civic Choice alignment in the 2013 Italian parliamentary election.
Appointed Non‑Executive Chairman of Alitalia
Took the role of Non‑Executive Chairman of the board of Alitalia (tenure cited as 2014–2017).
FOTA formally dissolved (association lifecycle)
Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), which Montezemolo founded in 2008 and presided until 2010, was formally dissolved in 2014.
Resigned as President and Chairman of Ferrari
On 10 September 2014 Montezemolo resigned as president and chairman of Ferrari and was replaced by Sergio Marchionne.
Returned to Formula One board
Reported by Reuters on 18 December 2014 that Montezemolo returned to the Formula One board as a non‑executive member.
Became committee president for Rome 2024 Olympic bid
In February 2015 appointed committee president of Rome's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame
In July 2015 Montezemolo was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in recognition of his impact on the auto industry and motorsport.
Named in Panama Papers
Montezemolo's name was mentioned in the Panama Papers financial document leaks in April 2016.
Received the America Award (Italy‑USA Foundation)
Awarded the America Award by the Italy‑USA Foundation in 2017.
Stepped down from UniCredit board (Vice Chairman)
Reportedly stepped down from the UniCredit Board of Directors (he had been an independent board member from 2012–2017).
Separated from Ludovica Andreoni
Marriage recorded as separated in September 2018 (married in 2000; separated 2018).
Appointed Director of McLaren Group Holdings Ltd
Reported on 28 June 2025 that Montezemolo was appointed a director of McLaren Group Holdings Ltd.
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