history of cardini
Below is a copy of an article that appeared in the business profile section of Arabian Knight Magazine in autumn 2004 titled 'Aristocratic Globetrotter':
Aristocrat businessman Gaddo Lensi Orlandi Cardini - the longest family name in Italy - says after travelling the world for the last 40 years, that globetrotting is a sort of addiction, an energetic and heavenly sickness.
In fact the name of his company is Heaven Energy.
Yet it is very clear that as a descendant of one of the oldest families in Italy and with a sister married to royalty he would not want it any other way.
The longest name came about because our family twice failed to have sons to keep the name going. Therefore following permission from the king, the ancient Cardini name became Orlandi Cardini, and then it happened again, Orlandi Cardini became Lensi Orlandi Cardini.
To be honest it is easiest when I am called Gaddo, for at times during my education, and after checking into hotels people have asked for Mr Lensi and I have been listed as Mr Cardini which leads to total confusion, he says.
For this reason the name Cardini, is now a trademark name like Rolex, like Rolls Royce, Ferrari, Chanel & Cartier.
As Chief Executive Officer and major shareholder of Heaven Energy, a Swiss based company involved in private banking and buys and sells aircraft and helicopters, his business interests extend worldwide and he has pursued important contracts in South and North America and Canada, South Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Far East.
Once a year I do a tour of the world taking in everything and anywhere, including China and Indonesia, he says.
As most business dealings see him mixing with the royal and the rich - they are people who own private aircraft the world over - Cardini frequently becomes involved in other areas of business and during a visit to Bahrain where he was among invited Formula One spectators in April, he found himself in discussions with Ruling Family members over local involvement with the Washington-based Prostate Cancer Foundation. It is dedicated to globally finding better treatments and a cure for the sickness that affects 230,000 new men each year.
Yet in Cardini's life, chance opportunities are frequent. Destiny is a strange thing, for through meeting people all over the world, anywhere from on planes, socially and in business talks, I often find myself almost as a special envoy, he says.
I meet somebody - obviously confidentiality is all-important on many occasions - and then through networking things begin to happen for I have friends and contacts at the very highest levels in many various fields.
With a family home in Verona, Italy as well as property in Florence where he spent part of his schooling, Cardini estimates he travels at least 150 days each year.
I travel so much I do not have a favourite country, but clearly identify with being happy where I am. Equally though I am never totally settled anywhere because I am addicted to travel so I do not stay in a place for six months on end.
Cardini's travelling began as a child, attending schools in Italy, Switzerland and England before going to university to study law in Italy.
After marrying he left university to become the youngest manager of Italian carrier Alitalia, and then became manager with Brazilian airline Varig, as well as Honorary Consul of Brazil in Verona. Later Cardini started his own shipping company in Italy dealing with Iran and the United Kingdom.
Following his divorce he moved to Malta but continued to operate his business out of Switzerland. Today his global career spans more than 40 years, from selling power stations in the late 70s and early 80s in the Middle East and Far East to helicopters in Japan.
Having lived in Paris, New York, Los Angeles and London, in 1993 Cardini set up his present Heaven Energy company that also offers shared ownership in planes and helicopters to individuals and corporations.
The company with its headquarters in Lausanne, has acted as a consultant in the marketing, promotion and sales of both Gulfstream and Bombardier aircraft among other business ventures. These services have brought a turnover of more than $1billion over the last 10 years.
With staff of around 10, Cardini says that the global sale of private planes was disappointing last year though in 2001 he regionally sold four planes in Kuwait and had sales in Italy, Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Looking ahead he is upbeat over global business opportunities in private aviation, though in Europe owning a private aeroplane is not as normal as in America or the Middle East.
Remarrying two year ago his wife, Lucia is based in Italy as are two of his three children from his first marriage. Now in their late 20s and early 30s his two sons are in banking - including one in London - while his daughter is in public relations in Milan.
The Cardini family is embroiled in a global multi million dollar lawsuit over the will of the late British writer and aesthete Sir Harold Acton, who is claimed to have been half brother of Cardini's mother as the result of the long lasting affair between Sir Harold's father, Lord Arthur Acton, and Cardini's grandmother.
Away from the courtroom and when not travelling the world, Cardini, an Italian noble of British heritage who speaks Italian, Spanish, English, French and Portuguese, likes to relax, yachting, horse riding and playing tennis and golf.