Illva Saronno recruits new CEO

Disaronno owner Illva Saronno Group has appointed ex-Stoli executive Marco Ferrari as its new CEO from 1 October 2023.

Ferrari has previously worked for Bacardi, Fratelli Branca, and Stoli Group, and most recently served as CEO for Italian spirits maker Gruppo Montenegro from 2014 to 2023.

Ferrari will take over the CEO position from Aldino Marzorati, who will retain the role of president for Illva Saronno to ‘facilitate the transition’.

Ferrari said: “I am thrilled to join a solid and successful group like Illva Saronno Group. I think there are all the ingredients to continue guiding it towards long-lasting growth. Illva Saronno Group has a history full of successes.

“I will commit myself to give my contribution to make it bigger and bigger in a very competitive market. I thank the Reina family very much for their trust and Aldino for the excellent condition in which he leaves this wonderful company.”

Marzorati had worked alongside the late Augusto Reina, who was CEO of Illva Saronno until his death in February 2020.

The Reina family said: “We are very pleased with the entry of Marco Ferrari into Illva Saronno Group. Marco is a manager with great experience, gained in multinational companies in the spirits and food sector, in which he has contributed to achieve a solid track record in terms of growth results.

“We are confident that, under his leadership, Illva Saronno will continue its growth and will capitalise on what has been achieved so far under the guidance of Aldino Marzorati, whom I thank on behalf of the entire board of directors for what he has done for the group. For almost 20 years he worked alongside Augusto Reina, making a great contribution to the growth of our brands in the world, to then become the first CEO external to the Reina family.”

‘Significant opportunities’

Marzorati added: “I thank the members and all the stakeholders for having believed in me for more than 20 exciting years. [It was an intense] period with a lot of commitment and great responsibility, especially towards all the employees who accompanied me and allowed me to achieve exceptional results. I thank everyone for this exciting experience, which I never imagined I could have, and which I have proudly walked.

“After this long journey together, I agreed with the board of directors that the time was right to transition to a new leader capable of leveraging Illva Saronno’s strengths and seizing the significant opportunities of the future. I leave to Marco a group that has grown over the years, and [he] will certainly be able to contribute to further growth, wishing him every personal and corporate success.”

In its full-year results ending 31 December 2022, Illva Saronno recorded a turnover of €321.9 million (US$355.9m), up 18.5% compared to the previous year, and a consolidated net profit of €38.8m (US$42.9m), a year-on-year increase of 25.4%. This was accredited to ‘heavy investments in research and development’.

As of the end of 2022, the group has 605 employees worldwide.