Early Life
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio was born in Rome, Italy, on April 30, 1953. He comes from a distinguished Italian family with a rich history in maritime law and industrial interests. His father, Antonio Lefebvre d'Ovidio, was a prominent figure in the shipping industry, and his mother, Eugenia Beck, hailed from a renowned Italian family. Manfredi was exposed to the world of business and entrepreneurship from an early age.
Rise to Success
Lefebvre's career in the cruise industry is marked by significant achievements. In 1988, he acquired control of Sitmar Cruises, merging it with P&O's Princess Cruises unit in 1989. However, his most significant contribution came in 1994 when he founded Silversea Cruises, a luxury cruise line renowned for its service and itineraries. Under his leadership, Silversea Cruises grew to a fleet of nine vessels, establishing it as a leader in luxury cruising. In 2018, he sold two-thirds of Silversea Cruises to Royal Caribbean for $1 billion while retaining a 2.5% stake. In 2020, he sold the remaining stake.
Key Business Strategies
Lefebvre's key business strategies involved creating an all-inclusive luxury cruise experience with Silversea Cruises, offering all-suite ships and global itineraries. He focused on providing exceptional service and expanding the fleet. He also ventured into new sectors, making executive buyouts in Arqit Quantum, a NASDAQ-listed quantum cryptography company. In 2019, Lefebvre bought 85% of the American luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent.
Philanthropy
Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio was appointed Ambassador-at-Large for Culture and Philanthropy by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta in January 2024. He also founded the Antonio Lefebvre Philanthropy foundation in 2024 to support humanitarian causes.