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Barbara Amerio named among Forbes Italia’s 100 successful women of 2026

From sustainable yachting to the blue economy, Barbara Amerio’s leadership receives recognition from Forbes Italia

Barbara Amerio, CEO of Amer Yachts, joins Forbes Italia’s 2026 list of 100 successful women

Italian yachting has earned a new place in the national business landscape. Barbara Amerio, CEO of Amer Yachts, has been included in Forbes Italia’s 2026 list of 100 successful women, recognising figures whose work is influencing the country’s economic, cultural, scientific and social development.

The recognition comes at a particularly meaningful time for the yachting industry. Shipyards are navigating complex international markets while responding to environmental expectations and accelerating technological change. Within this evolving scenario, Amerio’s career reflects a style of leadership shaped not only around the final product, but also around a broader vision of the sea and the industry connected to it.

Italian yachting represented in the Forbes 2026 list

Now in its ninth edition, Forbes Italia’s selection brings together entrepreneurs, executives, scientists, journalists, artists and athletes who are contributing to change across the country. The inclusion of the Amer Yachts CEO also gives the Italian yacht-building industry a place within this wider portrait of contemporary leadership.

Yachting is an industry where craftsmanship, industrial expertise, design and technological research must travel together. The finished yacht may appear effortlessly balanced, but behind its clean lines stands a complex production network made up of designers, engineers, suppliers, skilled workers and companies deeply connected to their local communities.

From a family venture to an international yacht brand

Amer Yachts was established in Sanremo in 1990 as part of the Permare Group. Over the years, it has developed a production philosophy focused on semi-custom yachts and projects combining performance, comfort and efficiency. Barbara Amerio now leads the company with an approach that preserves its family heritage while responding to the expectations of an increasingly international market.

Her responsibilities also extend to sustainability, which has become a central part of modern yacht development. Lower fuel consumption, reduced emissions, material research and cooperation with technology partners are no longer secondary considerations. They are becoming integral elements in the creation of every new yacht.

Leadership meets the blue economy

Only a few days before the Forbes list was published, Barbara Amerio took part in Economia del Mare on 2 July 2026. Promoted by Il Sole 24 Ore and hosted at Palazzo Ducale in Genoa, the summit focused on the outlook for Italy’s maritime economy.

Institutions, businesses and industry experts gathered to discuss ports, logistics, sustainability, energy transition and emerging technologies. These subjects may appear to belong to separate sectors, yet they share the same foundation. The sea is not merely a place to cross or admire, but one of Italy’s most valuable economic, industrial and cultural infrastructures.

The resilience of the Italian yachting industry

During a panel exploring the resilience of Italian yachting in a complex international environment, Amerio presented the Amer Yachts perspective on the changes affecting the industry. Yacht builders are facing geopolitical tensions, market volatility, evolving regulations and growing pressure to reduce their environmental impact.

In this context, resilience means more than simply enduring difficult conditions. It requires companies to adapt their processes, products and strategies while continuing to invest in research and professional skills, without losing the identity that makes Italian yacht building distinctive around the world.

Innovation and tradition on the same course

One of the most compelling aspects of contemporary yachting is the relationship between experience and change. Craftsmanship remains essential, but it must now interact with digitalisation, more efficient propulsion systems, advanced materials and technologies designed to make navigation increasingly sustainable.

For Italian shipyards, the challenge is to preserve the attention to detail traditionally associated with Made in Italy while ensuring that heritage does not become an anchor. A company’s history can provide stability, but innovation is what allows it to explore new routes.

A recognition extending beyond one career

Barbara Amerio’s inclusion among Forbes Italia’s 100 successful women carries a meaning that extends beyond an individual professional journey. It also directs attention towards an industry in which women are becoming increasingly visible in executive, technical, design and institutional positions.

Yachting is often presented through new models, international boat shows and carefully composed images. Behind every yacht, however, are people making decisions, coordinating expertise and planning for the future. This recognition is a reminder that leadership is also part of the design, even when it does not appear in renderings or official photographs.

The Italian sea as a platform for growth

The Forbes selection and the Economia del Mare summit represent two separate but closely connected moments. The first acknowledges an entrepreneurial career, while the second provides a platform for discussing the future of an industry that remains strategically important to Italy.

Together, they describe a yachting sector that can no longer be viewed exclusively through the language of luxury. Shipbuilding, marinas, ports, specialist services, research, tourism and supply chains form an ecosystem capable of generating employment, exports and innovation.

It is a world that continues to change quickly and therefore requires solid expertise, responsibility and the ability to look beyond the visible horizon. Barbara Amerio’s recognition reflects this evolution and brings the contribution of Italian yacht building into a broader conversation about leadership, industry and the future of the blue economy.

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www.ameryachts.it

20 July 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Barbara Amerio named among Forbes Italia’s 100 successful women of 2026
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The information in this article has been sourced from and adapted from official sources and/or press releases, in accordance with our editorial code of ethics.