Early Life
Rafaela Aponte-Diamant was born in Haifa, Mandatory Palestine, on March 26, 1945. She immigrated to Switzerland as a child with her parents, where she was raised in Geneva. Her father worked as an executive banker.
Rise to Success
In 1970, Rafaela, along with her husband Gianluigi Aponte, founded the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) in Brussels, Belgium, with a single ship. Over the years, MSC grew into the world's largest container shipping company. Rafaela played a vital role in the company's expansion, overseeing finances, and administrative operations. Her strategic approach has been key to MSC's growth. In 1988, they expanded into cruises with the acquisition of the liner Monterey. MSC Cruises is now one of the largest cruise firms in the world. Their wealth is tied up almost entirely in MSC, which besides its container shipping operations, also owns inland cargo business Medlog and container terminal operator Terminal Investment Limited.
Key Business Strategies
Rafaela's business acumen extends beyond container shipping. She recognized the potential in adjacent markets and expanded into the cruise industry, creating MSC Cruises. This diversification provided multiple revenue streams and reduced dependence on any single market segment. Also, the Aponte family has diversified into other sectors, including port terminals and logistics.
Philanthropy
In 2018, the Aponte family established the MSC Foundation to lead and coordinate conservation and humanitarian commitments worldwide.