The Chairman of Autogrill, Gilberto Benetton, one of the most prestigious and successful Italian entrepreneurs, will receive the “GEI Award 2017” in recognition and appreciation for all the activities he has carried out in favor of the Italian industry and for his great contribution to the improvement of the image and prestige of Italy throughout the world.
The award ceremony will take place on October 5th during a Gala held in the Ballroom of one of Manhattan’s most elegant hotels. More than three hundred qualified and selected guests will attend, including numerous Italian and American personalities, leaders of the economic and financial sectors in New York, and prominent media representatives. The event will coincide with the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Autogrill, the world’s leading restaurant for travelers.
The “GEI Award,” an artistic sculpture specially created for GEI by Arnaldo Pomodoro, is periodically presented to distinguished Italian and American individuals whose outstanding accomplishments have both elevated the image of Italy and furthered relations between the United States and Italy. Over its 40-plus year history, GEI has presented this prestigious award to: Gianni Agnelli, Biagio Agnes, Robert E. Allen, Luciano Benetton, Guido Carli, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Emilio Colombo, Mario Cuomo, Claudio Del Vecchio, Amalia Ercoli Finzi, Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, John E. Grettenberger, Edward M. Kennedy, Emma Marcegaglia, Vittorio Merloni, Leonardo Mondadori, Mario Monti, Gian Marco Moratti, Giorgio Napolitano, Umberto Nordio, Corrado Passera, Luciano Pavarotti, Sandro Pertini, Sergio Pininfarina, Leontyne Price, Alessandro Profumo, David Rockefeller, Renato Ruggero, Massimo Sarmi, Paolo Scaroni, Marvin S. Traub, Marco Tronchetti Provera, Roberto Vittori, Bruno Vespa and Ellen Wolff.
Gilberto Benetton is responsible for staging the diversification of the Benetton family’s activities in the retail, infrastructure and real estate sectors during the last 20 years, after setting up the Benetton Group in 1965 as a leader in the fashion industry, together with his sister Giuliana and brothers Luciano and Carlo.
Benetton is Vice President of Edizione S.r.l., the family holding company, President of Edizione Property, Chairman of Autogrill and Board Member of the Atlantia group. Benetton is also Board Member of the Mediobanca, of which he has served as Board Member of its Surveillance Council since 2007.
The Gala will open with a reception that will be followed by a formal dinner featuring a special Italian menu of the highest gastronomy, accompanied by the finest Italian wines. The presentation of the prestigious award and the acceptance speech of Gilberto Benetton will conclude the event.
Founded in 1974, GEI - Gruppo Esponenti Italiani is a non-profit with no politic involvement. The members of GEI are some of the most important Italian representatives in the United States who joined the organization to participate in its many initiatives that serve to improve the image of Italy in the United States.
