Lapo Elkann considers foundation for abuse victims

Lapo Elkann, a next-gen of the Agnelli family, has said he is considering opening a foundation for victims of sexual abuse, having revealed to Italian media he was himself abused as a teenager at boarding school.

Elkann, 36 – brother to John Elkann, chairman of multi-billion euro family-controlled holding company Exor – made the comments in an interview with Italian daily Fatto Quotidiano, though he did not name his abusers.

Elkann held a high profile marketing job at Fiat – the automobile brand that was the foundation of the family's wealth.

However, in 2005, at the age of 28, he nearly died from a cocaine and heroine overdose.

Following the much-publicised incident, Elkann quit his post at Fiat, and departed for an 18-month stint away from the spotlight in the US.

He has since founded his own sunglasses label, Italia Independent, and an advertising company called Independent Ideas, but he has not returned to the family business.

Elkann said in the Fatto Quotidiano interview, translated in a Reuters article: "You can be a sunny, positive person, but certain things, these kind of things, can leave you permanently scarred inside. But I don't consider myself a victim. The victims are others."