Mr Longo led Audi’s Italian operations since 2012

Fabrizio Longo, a 62-year-old Audi executive and passionate mountain climber, tragically fell to his death from a height of 10,000 feet while climbing Cima Payer in the Adamello mountains, near the Italian-Swiss border. According to the New York Post, Mr Longo, who headed Audi’s Italy-based operations, was nearing the summit when the accident occurred. A fellow climber witnessed the incident and alerted rescue teams, who promptly responded to the scene.

His body was found 700 feet down a gorge, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. A helicopter retrieval team then transported his body to a hospital in Carisolo for further examination. He was well-equipped with safety aids at the time of the incident, including steel cables and ladders.

An investigation is ongoing to determine the circumstances of his death. Once the autopsy and formalities are complete, his family will announce a date for his funeral.

Mr Longo, born in Rimini, Italy in 1962, started his career at Fiat in 1987 and later joined Audi in 2012. He quickly rose through the ranks and became the director of Italian operations in 2013. An Audi spokesperson described him as a source of unwavering support and a leader who inspired Audi Italia daily.

Aside from his professional achievements, Mr Longo was a strong advocate for environmental conservation and actively supported efforts to protect the environment from the impacts of climate change.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation expressed deep sorrow over his passing, calling it “a terrible loss.” Flavio Roda, the head of the federation, extended condolences to Longo’s family and the staff of Audi Italia.