Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio was born in Rome in 1953 from the renowned entrepreneur and lawmaker Antonio Lefebvre de Clunieres di Balsorano.

Lefebvre started his career working in family companies but moved swiftly to build his own companies. In 2001 he took control of Silversea Cruises, a family company and Global Leader in Luxury Cruising and became Executive Chairman.

He transformed Silversea from a cruise line with three vessels to the market leader with 8 ships cruising around the world. The fleet continues its expansion and is currently building his 9th ship, the Silver Muse. Further he expanded the Product range of the company by adding the Expedition sector quickly becoming leader of Luxury Expedition as well. The Expedition fleet is able to reach unique destinations such as Galapagos, Antarctica and the Artic.

Manfredi is a recognised leader of the Global Cruise Industry and served key roles, ranging from European Chairman to Member of the Global Executive Committee, in the industry association CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association). He held the title of Chairman between 2007 and 2013 and spearheaded the very complicated reputational crisis triggered by the incident of the Costa Concordia in 2011.

He member of the World Economic Forum di Davos (WEF) and of the Aspen Institute (Italian organization to promote the internationalization of the industrial, political and cultural Leadership of Italy) Forbes Global Conferences in Asia and Comitato Leonardo among others.

Manfredi is at the front of the tourism industry leadership and is a recognised Leader of WTTC (World Tourism and Travel Council) where he serves as Executive Vice President in charge of Europe. WTTC is the association, which comprises the most important players in Tourism worldwide.

Manfredi was honoured in 2016.