Rome: Carmaker Audi’s Italy head, Fabrizio Longo, died falling from a mountain near the Italian-Swiss border, The New York Post reported.
The 62-year-old avid mountain climber was nearing the summit of Cima Payer in the Adamello Mountains when he fell from a height of 10,000 feet.
A fellow climber alerted rescue teams, who promptly responded to the scene, locating his body some 700 feet down a gorge.
A helicopter team transported his mortal remains to a hospital in Carisolo for further examination.
At the time of accident Longo was in full climbing gear, equipped with safety aids like steel cables and ladders.
Police have started an investigation into his death and his family will announce funeral after the autopsy and other formalities are over.
Longo had been heading the Audi’s Italian operations after taking over the post since 2013.
Born in Rimini, Italy in 1962, Longo graduated in political science and set out his career at Fiat in 1987.
Having honed his marketing skills there, he found himself at the helm of the Lancia brand in 2002.
Joining Audi in 2012, he rose through the ranks to become the company’s director of Italian operations.
An Audi spokesperson told The Post that Fabrizio Longo was ‘the source of unwavering support’.
Longo, who was an advocate for environmental conversation, frequented the Adamello Mountains.
He supported efforts to protect the Mountain range from the impacts of climate change.
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation also released a statement mourning his death.