Geneva-headquartered MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s largest shipping group, has revealed that its ownership was transferred from founder Gianluigi Aponte to his son and daughter.
The company said the transfer of ownership took place during the last quarter of 2025 from its founder captain Gianluigi Aponte to his son and daughter, Diego and Alexa Aponte, both of whom are Italian nationals brought up in Switzerland and currently residents of the country.
Gianluigi Aponte will retain his role as executive chairman of the group, with MSC remaining focused on its core business, ocean freight.
“I am incredibly proud of this historic moment,” founder of MSC and chairman of the group Aponte said in a statement.
Founded in 1970 by Gianluigi Aponte, container shipping line MSC has 675 offices across 155 countries worldwide and a fleet of 1,000 vessels. The MSC Group’s activities now include overland transportation, logistics and a growing portfolio of port terminal operations. MSC’s shipping line sails on 300 trade routes and calls at 520 ports, carrying some 30 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually. The MSC Group, including its passenger businesses, employs 200,000 people worldwide.
The company believes that passing the ownership to the next generation ensures the continued stability and growth of the MSC Group of companies.
“Passing ownership to my children is not only a reflection of their dedication and achievements, but also a continuation of our family’s centuries long maritime heritage. With Diego and Alexa at the helm, I am confident that our Group will continue to thrive and honour our family’s legacy of innovation, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the sea,” commented Aponte in his statement.
Captain Gianluigi Aponte, Group Executive Chairman
Born in Sorrento, Italy, Mr Aponte started his career as a captain operating passenger ferries in the Mediterranean for his family’s business after graduating from the Italian Maritime Academy.
In 1970, following a break from the world of maritime transport to work as a banker for a number of years, captain Aponte returned to the industry to start his own business, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.
Inspired by his vision that “where the customer goes, MSC goes”, Aponte has since grown MSC from a single vessel operation to become one of the largest container shipping lines in the world.
