John Elkann Vice President of FIAT, grandson of the Italian financial magnate, FIAT patriarch Giovanni Agnelli Date of Birth: 01.04.1976 Country: USA

Biography of John Elkann

John Elkann, the vice president of "FIAT" company, is the beloved grandson of Italian financial magnate and patriarch of "FIAT", Giovanni Agnelli. From a young age, John, the son of Giovanni Agnelli's daughter Margherita and writer Alain Elkann, resembled his grandfather and was affectionately known as John.

John Elkann has always been a playboy, frequently appearing in the columns of society news. However, he has also accomplished the nearly impossible task of reviving "FIAT" and living up to the expectations of his family.

John Jacob Philip Elkann was born in 1976 in New York. Despite coming from a wealthy family, John received a proper upbringing and did not resemble a spoiled child of fortune. At the age of 17, he was already selling cars at a "FIAT" dealership. He went on to study in Cambridge, Paris, Turin, and even in the small English town of Cannock. Interestingly, during his time in England, John managed to live and study incognito, and no one suspected that this reserved and high-achieving student was the heir to a financial empire.

During his time in England, John Elkann was involved in a scandal, but his family carefully guards their personal lives, which is understandable. John also worked incognito on the assembly lines of the "FIAT" factory in the Polish city of Tychy and in Lille.

It is said that John is following in the footsteps of his powerful grandfather. Giovanni Agnelli, also known as L'Avvocato (The Lawyer), once worked on the assembly line at the "Ford" factory in Detroit, and none of his colleagues suspected the true identity of this Italian man.

In the 1990s, the Agnelli family faced significant challenges. "FIAT," which had been the leading European automotive company, suffered a drastic decline, losing its market position and profitability. The company dropped to 6th place in the industry rankings, and its profits turned into enormous losses that continued to multiply.

In response, the powerful family made their strategic move - John Elkann, meticulously trained and prepared, full of youthful energy and healthy ambitions, entered the family business. He was rightfully called the "petrolhead" and the "last hope of the Agnelli clan." Elkann managed to achieve great success, and "FIAT" slowly but steadily regained its momentum.

In 2006, John took the position of deputy chairman of IFIL. By 2007, the company's stock value had increased fivefold. It is noteworthy that his grandfather also took over the company during challenging times and led the post-war revival of "FIAT," transforming it into a global conglomerate.

In 2003, the legendary Gianni Agnelli passed away, leaving his business in the hands of a truly worthy successor. On May 14, 2008, John Elkann replaced 83-year-old Gianluigi Gabetti as the chairman of the board of directors, who had been managing the group since the death of his grandfather.

Today, John Elkann serves as the vice president of the company, representing the entire Agnelli family. On September 4, 2004, he married Lavinia Borromeo, who comes from a noble Italian dynasty with a history dating back to the Middle Ages.