Flavio Briatore

Flavio Briatore (b. April 12, 1950) is managing director of the Renault Formula One team.

Early life and Benetton career

Born in Cuneo, Italy, among the Maritime Alps, Briatore found early work in ski instruction and restaurant management. In the 1970s he became involved with the Italian stock exchange; during this period he met Luciano Benetton, founder of the Benetton clothing company. The two became friends and eventually business partners; when Benetton opened his first five stores in the United States in 1979, he appointed Briatore director of the group's American operations.

Related Topics:
Cuneo - Italy - Maritime Alps - 1970s - Italian stock exchange - Luciano Benetton - Benetton - United States - 1979

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Due to Benetton's unorthodox method of franchising, the chain experienced a brief boom in American popularity. By 1989 there were eight hundred stores in the United States; Briatore, having taken a cut of each franchising agreement, was a very wealthy man. As store owners began to complain of competition from other Benetton stores, the number of stores decreased to two hundred and Briatore began to look for a new business.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~