Mario Formenton was born in Teheran (Iran) in 1928. He completed his classical studies in Italy and attended courses of economy and law at the University of Milan.

In 1952 he married Cristina Mondadori and had one daughter: Silvia and three sons: Luca, Pietro, Mattia.

After a period of commercial activity on his own, he joined Mondadori on October 1961 as general Manager appointed Managing Director of the Company, assuming the responsability of international activities and of juvenile publications. Then, in 1968 he became Executive Vice President and Managing Director of the Company.

In December 1982 he was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arnoldo Mondadori Editore S.p.A., Italian leading Company in the publishing, printing and paper manufacturing fields, with over 6,800 employees and consolidated sales of Italian Lire 1,100,000,000 (US$ 650,000).

His other current directorships in the companies belonging to Mondadori Group were the following:

- President of Club degli Editori (book club and direct marketing activities)
- Vice President of Editoriale La Repubblica (newspaper)
- Member of the Board of Directors of Editoriale Le Gazzette (newspaper).

Moreover he was also member of the Board of Directors of F.I.E.G. (Italian Federation of Magazine and Newspaper Publishers).

In the educational and professional training field, he promoted and presided the important Graphic ARts School in Verona, the first school in Italy being operated by a joint committee formed by entrepreneurs and trade-unions.
Moreover, he was also President of C.U.O.A., a school for Management training.

he was decorated Cavaliere del Lavoro in 1982.

Mario Formenton died on 29th March, in 1987.