Fabrizio Longo, a 62-year-old Audi executive and avid mountaineer, died after falling from a height of 10,000 feet while climbing the Cima Pair in the Adamello Mountains near the Italian-Swiss border. according to New York Post, Mr Longo, who heads Audi’s Italy-based operations, was near the summit at the time of the accidentA fellow climber witnessed the incident and alerted rescue teams, who immediately arrived at the scene.
They found his body 700 feet down in the gorge, where he was declared dead. A helicopter retrieval team then airlifted his body to a hospital in Carisolo for further examination. At the time of the incident, he was equipped with various safety aids, including steel cables and ladders, which he had brought to aid him on his route.
The circumstances surrounding his death are still under investigation. After the post-mortem and other formalities are completed, Mr Longo’s family will announce the date of his funeral once his body is handed over.
Mr. Longo was born in Rimini, Italy in 1962 and holds a bachelor’s degree in political science. He began his journey at Fiat in 1987, where he honed his marketing skills before taking charge of the Lancia brand in 2002. He joined Audi in 2012 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming director of Italian operations in 2013.
An Audi spokesperson said Post: “Fabrizio Longo has been leading the Audi brand in Italy since 2013 with great success, confirming the brand’s leadership in the premium segment for 11 consecutive years. He was a source of unwavering support. His strong values and genuine care for everyone filled the workplace with warmth and respect. His infectious enthusiasm and positive energy influenced and inspired Audi Italia and its stakeholders every day.”
The Audi executive, who frequently visited the Adamello Mountains, was also a strong advocate of environmental conservation and strongly supported efforts to protect the region from the effects of climate change.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation also released a statement mourning his demise.
Federation chief Flavio Roda called Longo’s death “a tremendous loss for the federation, which has worked closely with him for years.”
He said: “Our thoughts are with the family and the employees of Audi Italia in this hour of grief.”
