Early Life
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio was born in Rome, Italy, on April 30, 1953. He is from a distinguished Italian family. His father, Antonio Lefebvre d'Ovidio, was a prominent figure in the shipping industry, laying the foundation for Manfredi's future in the cruise sector. He is divorced and has one daughter.
Rise to Success
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio's career is defined by his leadership in the luxury cruise industry. In 1994, he founded Silversea Cruises with his father, a company he developed into a global leader. Under his leadership, Silversea Cruises expanded its fleet and reach, offering ultra-luxury cruises to destinations worldwide. In 2001, he took full control of Silversea Cruises.
Key Business Strategies
A pivotal moment in his career was the sale of a majority stake in Silversea Cruises to Royal Caribbean in 2018 for $1 billion. Lefebvre d'Ovidio retained a 2.5% shareholder in Royal Caribbean, marking a significant strategic move. He is currently the Executive Chairman of Abercrombie & Kent Travel Group. He has been involved in various executive buyouts and investments in tourism, new technologies, renewable energy, real estate and biotechnology. Furthermore, he has contributed to the unification of the European cruise industry as chairman of the European Cruise Council.
Philanthropy
Manfredi is also dedicated to philanthropy, particularly through the Antonio Lefebvre D'Ovidio Di Balsorano Philanthropy, founded in 2024. In 2012 he founded the Les Amis D'Antonio, which supports and promotes social and cultural initiatives. Also A&K Philanthropy, which supports education, enterprise, health, and environment projects.
