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Leadership History

Ferrari: CEO History

4 leaders · 2008 to present

Who is the CEO of Ferrari?

Benedetto Vigna is the CEO of Ferrari, in the role since 2021. The first chief executive was Amedeo Felisa, from 2008.

Current CEO
Benedetto Vigna (since 2021)
First CEO
Amedeo Felisa (2008)
Leaders documented
4
Founded
1947
NameRoleFromToYears in role
Benedetto VignaChief Executive Officer2021Present5
John ElkannExecutive Chairman2018Present8
Sergio MarchionneFormer Chairman and CEO201420184
Amedeo FelisaChief Executive Officer200820168
Who was CEO of Ferrari before Benedetto Vigna?
Sergio Marchionne was CEO of Ferrari from 2014 to 2018, before Benedetto Vigna took over in 2021.
Who have been the CEOs of Ferrari?
The CEOs of Ferrari documented here are Amedeo Felisa (2008–2016), Sergio Marchionne (2014–2018) and Benedetto Vigna (2021–present).

Company Overview

Ferrari is a luxury company that happens to build cars. Based in Maranello, it designs and builds sports cars, GTs, the Purosangue and limited hypercars, races in Formula 1 through Scuderia Ferrari, and sells branded lifestyle products. Exor, the Agnelli family holding company, is the largest shareholder, and Benedetto Vigna has been CEO since September 2021. The company is headquartered in Maranello, Italy.

Benedetto Vigna

Chief Executive Officer

2021 – Present

5 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Recruited from outside the automotive industry, Benedetto Vigna brought critical expertise in semiconductor technology and consumer electronics to Ferrari in 2021. His mandate was clear: handle the existential threat of electrification without diluting the brand's well-known performance pedigree. He has prioritized strategic partnerships with technology firms to develop proprietary battery systems and software, refusing to rely on off-the-shelf electric vehicle components. A physicist by training Vigna was brought in specifically to handle the complex transition from traditional internal combustion engines to high-performance electric vehicles, ensuring the brand's well-known emotional appeal translates to the electric era.

Legacy

Vigna's leadership marks a profound shift for Ferrari, emphasizing digital innovation and sustainable performance over pure internal combustion heritage. He has accelerated the company's timeline for launching its first fully electric vehicle while continuing to deliver record-breaking financial results through strict volume control and high-margin bespoke customization programs. Vigna's leadership is defined by a delicate balancing act: pushing the technological boundaries of electrification while protecting the brand's exclusive heritage and the visceral driving experience demanded by its top clientele.

John Elkann

Executive Chairman

2018 – Present

8 years (current)

Key Decisions & Impact

Elkann, CEO of Exor, became Ferrari chairman after Sergio Marchionne's death in 2018 and backed Benedetto Vigna's appointment as CEO in 2021.

Legacy

Represents Ferrari's largest shareholder, Exor, on the board and oversees long-term strategy.

Sergio Marchionne

Former Chairman and CEO

2014 – 2018

4 years

Key Decisions & Impact

As the strong head of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA), Sergio Marchionne took direct control of Ferrari in 2014. He immediately recognized that the brand was artificially constrained by its corporate parent and orchestrated its complex, successful spin-off and Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2015. He pushed for a controversial expansion of the product lineup, including the initial development of the Purosangue SUV, breaking long-standing internal taboos to increase revenue without sacrificing exclusivity.

Legacy

Marchionne transformed Ferrari from a specialized division within a mass-market automaker into one of the most valuable, capitalized luxury brands in the world. His insistence on expanding production volumewhile still keeping it just below global demandunlocked shareholder value following the IPO. His tragic, unexpected death in 2018 left a significant leadership void, but the strategic trajectory he established continues to drive the company's exceptional financial performance today.

Amedeo Felisa

Chief Executive Officer

2008 – 2016

8 years

Key Decisions & Impact

Felisa became chief executive of Ferrari in 2008 and led it through the 2008 financial crisis and the preparation of the 2015 initial public offering.

Legacy

He retired in 2016 and Sergio Marchionne became chief executive.

Challenges & Strategic Context

Ferrari must convince purists that an electric Ferrari like the Luce is still a Ferrari, while investors expect steady growth from a business that refuses to scale volume. It also faces currency swings, US tariffs on European cars, and the reputational effect of Scuderia Ferrari's long Formula 1 title drought (its last drivers' title came in 2007).

Ferrari CEO and Leadership FAQ

Who is the CEO of Ferrari?

Benedetto Vigna serves as CEO. Breaking deep automotive tradition, Vigna came from the semiconductor industry. He was hired specifically to aggressively transition Ferrari into the highly complex world of electric supercars without losing the brand's acoustic and emotional soul.

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Content is for informational purposes only. Not financial advice. Data sourced from SEC filings, annual reports, and public records. See our full disclaimer and methodology.