Yesterday, Monday 27 April 2015, 91-year old Juan Bautista (Gianni) Vicini Cabral passed away in a Santo Domingo hospital. He was the third generation leader of the Vicini family for more than 50 years and was believed to be the wealthiest man in the Dominican Republic.
His eldest son, Felipe A. Vicini, executive president of the Vicini group confirmed his passing.
Vicini Cabral was born in Genoa, Italy in 1924 and graduated in chemical engineering from MIT in 1946. He led the family businesses, which were mostly inherited sugar cane plantations, together with his three siblings, all deceased.
When he handed over the family businesses to his children in 2007, the fourth generation, they included tourism, real estate, financial services, energy, industry, food and drinks, retail and media. In the past, the Vicini money was mainly invested abroad.