Maurizio parlato biography graphic organizer

NEW YORK - Maurizio Parlato strode into the Ferrari showroom in Manhattan carrying a large red briefcase that contrasted with his pale yellow leather pants.

The tall, lean, blond CEO of Ferrari of North America scanned the floor to see who was looking at what car.

Parlato likes taking the pulse of his buyers several times a week in Ferrari's showroom in New York, just across the Hudson River from Ferrari and Maserati headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

The year-old Italian executive likes what he sees at his Park Avenue boutique: plenty of Big Apple big shooters and lots of well-heeled tourists.

With three of its four car lines sold out for at least 18 months, Ferrari of North America is probably the envy of most ultraluxury brands.

But even Ferrari's North American profits had been suffering because of the strong euro.

This year, Parlato says profits on U.S. car sales are getting fatter.