ONE of Audi’s senior executives has died after falling from a mountain while climbing alone in the Alps in northern Italy.

Fabrizio Longo, who ran Audi’s Italy-based operations, was hiking at the Cima Payer in the Adamello mountains on Saturday when he fell about 350m to his death.

The Verona-based 62-year-old executive, who Audi said 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.

Fabrizio Longo

A newspaper report said rescue teams, including a helicopter, rushed to the scene. Mr Longo was quickly spotted by the helicopter but the medical team on board was unable to do anything but confirm the exec’s death.

The Italian prosecutor’s office is investigating his death as an accident and the newspaper report said there was no suggestion of foul play.

Mr Longo was born in Rimini in 1962 and 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.

Following senior roles at Toyota Italia and BMW Italia, Mr Longo joined Volkswagen Group in 2013, where he led Audi Italia for the past 11 years.

Mr Longo was reported as loving the Dolomites so much that he had even used his job to promote them. Under his leadership, Audi has been a partner of the “Maratona dles Dolomites” (a bike-riding marathon) since 2017.

In a statement, Audi said: “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.

“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 part of the Volkswagen Group, echoed in a LinkedIn post that Mr 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.”

The supercar brand’s chair and CEO Stephan Winkelmann wrote on LinkedIn 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.”