The Italian-Swiss shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company (Msc), the largest in the world, has announced today the transfer of ownership of the company from Gianluigi Aponte, the founder, to his children Diego and Alexa. Diego and Alexa are Italian citizens but grew up in Switzerland, where they reside. Msc’s headquarters is also in Switzerland, in Geneva.
THE ROLES OF GIANLUIGI, DIEGO AND ALEXA APONTE
Despite the ownership transfer – which took place in the last quarter of 2025 – Gianluigi Aponte will retain the position of executive chairman. Diego Aponte is instead the chairman of the Msc group, while Alexa Aponte is the chief financial officer. The CEO, since 2020, is Soren Toft.
MSC WILL NOT CHANGE STRATEGIC DIRECTION
Aponte described the transfer of ownership to his two children as a “historic moment.” “It is not only a recognition of their dedication and achievements,” he stated, “but also the continuation of our family’s centuries-old maritime tradition.”
In the statement, Msc highlighted that it will continue to focus on its core business, maritime freight transport. In fact, in recent years the company has made several acquisitions – the most recent being the South Korean company Sinokor – with the goal of evolving into an integrated logistics group, active not only in container maritime transport but also in land and air transport, as well as terminal management.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT MSC
Little is known about Msc’s financial figures, as it is not publicly traded. The extent of Gianluigi Aponte’s wealth is also uncertain but could exceed 37 billion dollars.
Founded in 1970, Msc owns a fleet of one thousand ships and 675 offices in over one hundred and fifty countries worldwide; it employs a total of two hundred thousand people.
Among its subsidiaries are the cruise operator Msc Cruises; Snav, the shipowner specializing in connections between the main Italian islands, also reaching Croatia; Grandi Navi Veloci, which handles maritime connections in Sicily, Sardinia, and several European and North African countries; and Slam, a Genoese brand of technical sailing clothing. Another group subsidiary is Terminal Investment Limited, specialized in terminal management, which will temporarily manage the port of Cristobal, at the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal.
Msc also owns 49.2 percent of the railway company Italo – Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori and has acquired the entirety of the Italian air operator AlisCargo, rebranded as Msc Air.
