A top Audi executive has died after plunging from a 10,000-foot mountain while climbing alone in the Alps.
Fabrizio Longo, who ran the luxury car company’s Italy-based operations, was hiking at the Cima Payer in the Adamello mountains on Saturday when he fell some 700 feet to his death.
The accident happened in northern Italy just a few miles from the Italian-Swiss border.
The Verona-based 62-year-old executive—who was a keen mountain climber—reportedly hiked along a route equipped with fixed steel cables, ladders, and other aids, before a fellow climber witnessed his fatal fall and alerted emergency services.
Rescue teams rushed to the scene, and due to the summit’s challenging terrain, a helicopter was brought on to help with the search mission.
According to local media, his body was quickly spotted by the helicopter and the medical team on board was unable to do anything but confirm the exec’s death.
Now the prosecutor's office is investigating his death as an accident and there is no suggestion of foul play.
Fortune has reached out to Audi for comment.
Fabrizio Longo: A veteran executive in the automotive industry
Born in Rimini in 1962, Longo graduated in political science before joining the automotive industry.
His career began at Fiat in 1987, where he climbed the ranks in the marketing department to become vice president of sales in Europe, according to several European-based outlets.
Longo then took on senior roles at Toyota Italia and BMW Italia before joining Volkswagen Group in 2013, where he led Audi Italia for the past 11 years.
The car boss loved the Dolomites so much that he had even used his job to promote them. Under his leadership, the brand has been a partner of the "Maratona dles Dolomites" (a bike-riding marathon) since 2017.
Lamborghini’s chairman and CEO remembers his friend
Audi confirmed Longo's passing on LinkedIn yesterday.
“It is with great dismay and deep sadness that we have to acknowledge that our long-standing and highly valued colleague and Managing Director of Audi Italia, Fabrizio Longo, died in a fatal accident on Saturday while touring his beloved mountains,” the company wrote.
“His commitment and passion for Audi have inspired us all and will continue to accompany us. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family, relatives and friends as well as all employees of Audi Italia.”
Lamborghini, which is also part of the Volkswagen Group family, echoed in a LinkedIn post that Longo “stood out for his steadfast values, unwavering determination and passion for his work, which contributed greatly to the growth and success of the Audi brand in Italy.”
Meanwhile, Lamborghini’s chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann wrote on the networking platform that “Longo's sudden passing has left a deep void,” while commemorating “his admirable values, tenacity and determination.”
“We will miss you Fabrizio. Goodbye, my friend.”
