Following an undisclosed illness, Giuseppe Taranto, the vice chairman of The Italian Sea Group, has died. The shipyard released a statement earlier today announcing his passing, which comes after being ill for less than a year.
“Giuseppe Taranto fought with immense courage and dignity this tremendous disease that brought him away from his beloved ones,” the statement reads.
Born in Gioia del Colle, in the Puglia region of southern Italy, Taranto grew up far from yachting centers. Similarly, after graduating with degrees in accounting and business administration, he began his career in other industries. Notably, he worked for two major Italian accessories brands. Firstly, he was a manager for the Natuzzi Group, renowned for its leather goods, from 1994 to 2003. He also spent five years as a consultant for and then general manager of Cala Italia, a furnishings company.
Taranto entered the yachting industry in 2009, as general manager of Tecnomar. Interestingly, the move marked the next step in a long business relationship with Giovanni Costantino, founder and CEO of The Italian Sea Group. In fact, Costantino joined the Natuzzi Group in 1997, departing in 2008 to form his own company. That company acquired Tecnomar the following year. Taranto became managing director of Tecnomar in 2010. Costantino’s company went on to acquire the Admiral shipyard in 2011 and then NCA Refit in 2012. From 2016 onward, Taranto had service as vice chairman of The Italian Sea Group’s board of directors.
As part of the Group, Taranto saw several significant superyacht projects launch. These include Kenshō in 2021. These further include Giorgio Armani’s Admiral yacht project, currently under contract.
Costantino fondly recalls developing both professional and personal relationships with Taranto over three decades. “None of us were prepared to face such a great heartache,” he says. “The best way to honor his memory is to remember and treasure every day those values of humanity, responsibility, and dedication of which he was the most convinced supporter.”
Taranto leaves behind his wife Lucia and children Ludovica and Valentino.
The Group’s board of directors has not yet named a successor. It plans to meet soon.
The Italian Sea Group theitalianseagroup.com
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