Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

MSC hires Benetton veteran as chief communications officer

5f9510699b3ce1e7f08f570b6f85e9a2_XL
Luca Biondolilo will report to ceo Gianni Onorato
MSC Cruises hired a seasoned international corporate communications executive, most recently with Benetton Group, as chief communications officer. Luca Biondolilo will be based in Geneva and report to ceo Gianni Onorato. He starts March 2.

Biondolilo joins at a 'crucial time in our corporate development,' Onorato said, citing MSC Cruises' €5bn fleet expansion plan to double its current capacity by 2022 with seven new ships.

'His profile fits MSC extremely well, since he has worked extensively with both private and publicly-traded, family-controlled multinational corporations,' Onorato added.

Biondolio previously headed corporate communications and public affairs for Benetton Group, the parent company of United Colors of Benetton and other leading global fashion brands. He has nearly 20 years’ experience in high-level corporate, financial and sustainability communications in multicultural, global settings. He is also vp of the board of the Brussels-based European Association of Communication Directors.

Biondolillo, who holds dual Italian-US citizenship, has worked in Europe, the Americas, Africa and Asia. He brings experience in global reputation management, corporate social responsibility communications, issues management and crisis communications. He has led or consulted for publicly traded and private global corporations in sectors including fashion, luxury, food, manufacturing, consumer goods, retail, transportation, automotive and high-tech.

As a senior executive and team leader for New York-based global communications consultancies from 1995 through 2003, Biondolillo managed investor and financial media relations for various multinational corporations, including several IPOs, secondary offerings and other equity and debt offerings, mainly in the US but also across Europe and Asia.

In 2004 he moved in-house to lead financial and corporate communications for NYSE- and Milan-listed Luxottica Group, a leader in premium, luxury and sports eyewear with more than €7bn in annual net sales, 73,000 employees and a presence in 130 countries.