Itema Group appoints new CEO

Technology Weaving

Ugo Ghilardi’s extensive global leadership experience and proven track record in the industry will be dedicated to consolidating the group’s current position and conquering new market shares, as well as developing the Itema industrial capacity and prowess, that always played a role of primary importance for the company and its shareholders

Ugo Ghilardi, Chief Executive Officer

Itema Group, a part of the multinational Radici World of Companies manufacturing advanced weaving solutions including weaving machines, spare parts and integrated services and with majority interests in companies active in complementary businesses, announced that its Board of Directors has named Ugo Ghilardi as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 2, 2020. Ghilardi, who is taking over from Carlo Rogora at the helm of the Colzate-based company, during his remarkable professional experience has held positions of increasing responsibility in leading companies in the mechanical and automation industries.

Ghilardi, in fact, boasts a long career in DMG Mori – a German-Japanese multinational company that is a world leader in the production and marketing of machine tools – where he held a variety of senior management positions, including Divisional Board Member (Sales and Service, EMEA) and Chief Operating Officer (Europe, Middle East, Africa) with direct responsibility of sales and service for all European markets and CEO, DMG Mori Europe.

Commenting on this appointment, Gianfranco Ceruti, President of the Itema Board of Directors, said: “Ugo Ghilardi brings to the position a wealth of knowledge in international markets and an array of experiences in the mechanical industry, thus allowing us to count on fundamental skills to drive a company like Itema.”

“We are convinced that Ghilardi will guide our group with foresight and vision, reinforcing our position on the market and our structural solidity also due to his extraordinary mastery of operations activities and his customer-oriented attitude,” he added. Key factors that led the Itema Board of Directors to name Ghilardi as new CEO are his deep-rooted closeness to the company and his strategic vision, as stated by Angelo Radici on behalf of Gianni Radici’s family heirs who hold the 60% of Itema shares and in agreement with Arizzi and Torri families to which the remaining shares belong.

“Ghilardi, in addition to his excellent understanding of global business scenarios, comes from our own territory and knows very well its traditional and historical vocation in the textile industry. I strongly believe that the crucial aspect for us is to entrust the leadership of our group to a man of great managerial capacity to maintain our traditional excellent level of quality in the solutions provided to our existing customers as well as guiding the company towards new business expansions. All this in line with the sustainability mission that has always distinguished us and that, I am sure, Ghilardi will translate into concrete actions,” Radici added.