Mr. Longo has led Audi’s Italian operations since 2012
Fabrizio Longo, a 62-year-old Audi executive and passionate mountaineer, fell to his death from a height of 3,000 meters while climbing the Cima Payer in the Adamello Mountains, near the Italian-Swiss border. According to the New York Post, Mr. Longo, who headed Audi’s Italy-based operations, was nearing the top when the accident occurred. A fellow climber witnessed the incident and alerted rescue teams, who immediately responded to the scene.
They found his body 700 feet away in a canyon, where he was pronounced dead. A helicopter team then took his body to a hospital in Carisolo for further examination. At the time of the incident, he was well equipped with various safety equipment, including wire ropes and ladders, which he had brought with him to assist him on his route.
The circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation. Once the autopsy and other formalities are completed, Mr Longo’s family will announce a date for his funeral, following the release of his body.
Mr. Longo was born in Rimini, Italy, in 1962 and graduated with a degree in political science. He started his career at Fiat in 1987, where he honed his marketing skills before taking the helm of the Lancia brand in 2002. He joined Audi in 2012 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming director of the Italian operations in 2013.
This is what an Audi spokesperson said The post: “Fabrizio Longo has been leading the Audi brand in Italy with enormous success since 2013, confirming the brand’s leadership in the premium segment for eleven years in a row. He was the source of unwavering support. His strong values and genuine care for everyone created a workplace full of warmth and respect. His infectious enthusiasm and positive energy touched and inspired Audi Italia and its stakeholders on a daily basis.”
The Audi executive, who regularly visited the Adamello Mountains, was also a passionate advocate for environmental conservation and strongly supported efforts to protect the area from the effects of climate change.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation also released a statement mourning his death.
Flavio Roda, the head of the federation, called Longo’s death “a terrible loss for the federation that has been working fruitfully with Longo for years.”
“We join the family in this moment of great pain, and the staff of Audi Italia,” he said.