Webster Geneva Selects 2025 Commencement Speaker
March 17, 2025
Webster University’s Geneva Campus is pleased to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its Webster graduates.
On Saturday, May 10, Webster Geneva will honor graduates from its Summer 2024, Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 programs.
Webster Geneva's 2025 commencement ceremony speaker, Stephan Winkelmann, is an internationally renowned automotive executive and the current chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Born in Berlin in 1964, Winkelmann grew up in Rome, where his father worked as a foreign diplomat. After graduating from the Deutsche Schule Rom, he undertook studies in political science in both Rome and Munich, graduating in Munich in 1991. Between 1987 and 1988, Winkelmann spent two years in the German army as a parachute officer. In 1992, he began his professional career at a financial company, switching focus soon thereafter to the automobile world, working in the commercial sector as a sales representative for Mercedes Benz and later, for Fiat and Alfa Romeo.
In 1994, he became the area manager for the Alfa Romeo brand within Fiat Automobil AG in Germany. Subsequently, he became the head of marketing for Fiat’s southern region. From 1996 to 1999, he worked as the area manager for several European markets, overseeing Fiat Auto S.p.A in Turin and serving as marketing manager for Alfa Romeo, where he was responsible for the launch of the Alfa Romeo 156. After several positions in sales and serving as Fiat’s managing director for Austria and Switzerland, Winkelmann was appointed CEO of Fiat Automobil AG in Germany in 2004.
From January 2005 to 2016, Winkelmann served as chairman and chief executive officer of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. In March 2016, he became CEO of Quattro GmbH, now Audi Sport GmbH, before joining Bugatti Automobiles as chairman in early 2018. In December 2020, he returned to Lamborghini as chairman and chief executive officer while simultaneously holding the presidency of Bugatti until October 2021.
In addition to these professional accomplishments, Winkelmann has also been honored for his excellence in representing the country and culture of Italy. In 2009, Winkelmann was appointed Grande Ufficiale dell’Ordine al Merito della Republica Italiana (Grande Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic), and in 2014 was knighted Cavaliere di Grand Croce (Knight of the Grand Cross), earning one of the highest honors bestowed upon individuals by the president of the Italian Republic.
We are fortunate to anticipate the insights and wisdom Winkelmann will share with our graduating class, friends and family. Winkelmann’s journey is certain to be an inspiration to our graduates, who will be the future leaders of our industries.
We eagerly await the commencement address provided by Winkelmann and are honored to welcome him at the 2025 commencement ceremony.