Ferrari Unveils New Organization and Top Team to Face Electrification Challenge

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2018 file photo, the Ferrari Monza SP1 car is displayed in Maranello, Italy. (AP Photo/Collen Barry, file)
FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2018 file photo, the Ferrari Monza SP1 car is displayed in Maranello, Italy. (AP Photo/Collen Barry, file)
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Ferrari Unveils New Organization and Top Team to Face Electrification Challenge

FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2018 file photo, the Ferrari Monza SP1 car is displayed in Maranello, Italy. (AP Photo/Collen Barry, file)
FILE - In this Sept. 18, 2018 file photo, the Ferrari Monza SP1 car is displayed in Maranello, Italy. (AP Photo/Collen Barry, file)

Ferrari's new chief executive on Monday unveiled a new organization and leadership changes aimed at sharpening its technology focus and product exclusivity as the luxury sports car maker embraces electrification.

Benedetto Vigna, a tech industry veteran and a former top executive at chip maker STMicroelectronics, took the CEO role in September with a task to drive Ferrari into the new era of cleaner, silent and interconnected mobility.

Functions including "Product Development and Research & Development", "Digital & Data" and "Technologies & Infrastructures" will now directly report to the CEO, Ferrari said in a statement.

As part of the overhaul, the company appointed Gianmaria Fulgenzi - at Ferrari since 2002 and recently head of supply chain at its racing division - as chief product development officer, it said.

Ernesto Lasalandra was hired from Vigna's former employer STMicro to become Ferrari's chief research and development officer.

Silvia Gabrielli, who joined Ferrari in 2019 from Microsoft, was appointed chief digital and data officer to boost "the digital transformation process throughout the company,
ensuring more data driven and digitally focused processes."

"The new organizational structure will further foster innovation, optimize processes and increase collaboration both internally and with partners," Ferrari said in a statement.

Ferrari also hired Angelo Pesci from STMicro, where he has spent over 20 years dealing with financial planning, supply chain and product planning, services and operations. He was named chief purchasing and quality officer at the Italian company, Reuters reported.

Bestinver analyst Andrea Trovarelli said in a report that Vigna's decision to hire two top executives from STMicroelectronics suggested the CEO was "turning to trusted
allies to aid his turnaround and to put the iconic manufacturer on course for electrification."

Ferrari has confirmed Mattia Binotto as boss of its Formula One racing team, it added.

In one of Vigna's first major moves Ferrari last month said it was shaking up its leadership structure, with three top executives leaving the company.

Those included Chief Technology Officer Michael Leiters and Chief Brand Diversification Officer Nicola Boari, who oversaw Ferrari's push beyond its luxury sports car business, with the unveiling in June of its first in-house fashion collection.

Vigna will run the "Brand Diversification" function on an interim basis, Ferrari said.



iRead Marathon Records over 6.5 Million Pages Read

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
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iRead Marathon Records over 6.5 Million Pages Read

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA
Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone - SPA

The fifth edition of the iRead Marathon achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 6.5 million pages read over three consecutive days, in a cultural setting that reaffirmed reading as a collective practice with impact beyond the moment.

Hosted at the Library of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) and held in parallel with 52 libraries across 13 Arab countries, including digital libraries participating for the first time, the marathon reflected the transformation of libraries into open, inclusive spaces that transcend physical boundaries and accommodate diverse readers and formats.

Participants agreed that the number of pages read was not merely a numerical milestone, but a reflection of growing engagement and a deepening belief in reading as a daily, shared activity accessible to all, free from elitism or narrow specialization.

Pages were read in multiple languages and formats, united by a common conviction that reading remains a powerful way to build genuine connections and foster knowledge-based bonds across geographically distant yet intellectually aligned communities, SPA reported.

The marathon also underscored its humanitarian and environmental dimension, as every 100 pages read is linked to the planting of one tree, translating this edition’s outcome into a pledge of more than 65,000 trees. This simple equation connects knowledge with sustainability, turning reading into a tangible, real-world contribution.

The involvement of digital libraries marked a notable development, expanding access, strengthening engagement, and reinforcing the library’s ability to adapt to technological change without compromising its cultural role. Integrating print and digital reading added a contemporary dimension to the marathon while preserving its core spirit of gathering around the book.

With the conclusion of the iRead Marathon, the experience proved to be more than a temporary event, becoming a cultural moment that raised fundamental questions about reading’s role in shaping awareness and the capacity of cultural initiatives to create lasting impact. Three days confirmed that reading, when practiced collectively, can serve as a meeting point and the start of a longer cultural journey.


Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Launches Fifth Beekeeping Season

Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
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Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Launches Fifth Beekeeping Season

Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA
Jazan’s Annual Honey Festival - File Photo/SPA

The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority launched the fifth annual beekeeping season for 2026 as part of its programs to empower the local community and regulate beekeeping activities within the reserve.

The launch aligns with the authority's objectives of biodiversity conservation, the promotion of sustainable environmental practices, and the generation of economic returns for beekeepers, SPA reported.

The authority explained that this year’s beekeeping season comprises three main periods associated with spring flowers, acacia, and Sidr, with the start date of each period serving as the official deadline for submitting participation applications.

The authority encouraged all interested beekeepers to review the season details and attend the scheduled virtual meetings to ensure organized participation in accordance with the approved regulations and the specified dates for each season.


Hail Municipality Named Arab Green City For 2024-2025

The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
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Hail Municipality Named Arab Green City For 2024-2025

The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA
The achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development - SPA

The Hail Region Municipality has secured first place in the Arab Green City award for 2024-2025 at the 15th session of the Arab Towns Organization.

This recognition honors the municipality’s commitment to environmental sustainability, the expansion of green spaces, and the implementation of urban practices that elevate the quality of life, SPA reported.

The award follows a series of strategic environmental initiatives, including large-scale afforestation, the modernization of public parks, and the adoption of eco-friendly solutions to enhance the urban landscape and resource efficiency.

By aligning its projects with the sustainability goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the municipality continues to foster a healthy and safe environment for residents and visitors.

This achievement establishes Hail as a leading Arab model for sustainable urban development.