Ernesto Silvio Maurizio Bertarelli, born in Rome in 1965, transitioned from leading a pharmaceutical enterprise to managing a diverse global investment portfolio. After moving to Switzerland in 1977, he completed his education at Babson College and Harvard Business School, eventually overseeing the growth of the family company Serono before its transition to new corporate ownership.
Corporate Leadership and Transition
Pietro Bertarelli joined Serono in 1906, with Fabio Bertarelli succeeding him as managing director in 1965. Ernesto Bertarelli became CEO in 1996 and assumed ownership with his sister Dona in 1998. Under his guidance, the firm shifted focus toward biotechnology. Revenues grew from $809 million in 1996 to $2.8 billion by 2006. The organization earned recognition for breakthroughs in female infertility treatment and therapies for multiple sclerosis. In 2007, the family sold the company for $13.3 billion.
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The family wealth is managed through B-Flexion, an investment firm with offices in Geneva, London, Jersey, Boston, and Dublin. The entity operates through various specialized partnerships including the real estate fund Crosstree, the hedge fund group Kedge Capital, and the technology-focused Forestay Capital. B-Flexion holds interests in companies such as Stallergenes-Greer, Corium, and Paratek Pharmaceuticals, while also maintaining ownership stakes in asset management firms like Longview Partners and Capital Four.
Sailing and the America’s Cup
Bertarelli founded Team Alinghi in 2000. In 2003, the syndicate won the America's Cup in Auckland, representing the Société Nautique de Genève, marking the first time a team secured the trophy on its inaugural attempt. The team successfully defended the title in 2007 in Valencia. Following a loss in 2010, the team competed as Alinghi Red Bull Racing in 2024. Bertarelli served as a navigator and grinder for the team and was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 2016.
Philanthropic Initiatives
The Bertarelli Foundation supports efforts in neuroscience, marine conservation, and education. Significant projects include the Centre for Neuroprosthetics at the EPFL in Lausanne and a collaborative neuroscience program between Harvard Medical School and the EPFL. Furthermore, the foundation partnered with the British government to establish a marine reserve in the Chagos archipelago. In 2013, the Bertarelli family led a consortium to develop Campus Biotech on the former site of their previous corporate headquarters.
Fast facts
- Born: 1965, Rome
- Education: Babson College, Harvard Business School
- Known for: Alinghi, Serono
- Awards: Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Citizenship: Italy, Switzerland
- Investment vehicle: B-Flexion
Questions readers ask
What is B-Flexion?
It is an investment firm based in Geneva that manages the Bertarelli family's wealth across sectors including technology, real estate, and life sciences.
What is the Bertarelli Foundation's focus?
It supports marine conservation, medical research in neuroscience, and academic programs in partnership with institutions like Harvard and EPFL.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Giuseppe Motta Medal — 2011
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Holdings: Vava II
- Educated at Harvard Business School and Harvard University
