New President at Veronafiere

VERONA — Maurizio Danese is the new president of Veronafiere, which produces a variety of trade events including the annual Marmomacc stone show here.

Maurizio DaneseDanese won a three-year term at the group’s annual general meeting today. He succeeds Ettore Riallo, who became Veronafiere president in 2009.

Veronafiere also installed a new board of directors at the meeting with Barbara Blasevich, Marino Breganze, Guidalberto di Canossa and Claudio Valente.

At the annual general meeting, discussion of the remaining items on the agenda was deferred in order to give the new board time to take a closer look at the proposals and assessments involving individual decisions which shareholders will be called upon to vote on during the next assembly.

“I would like to thank shareholders and institutions for their trust in me. It will be well repaid,” Danese said. “I come into a reality that the board and the outgoing president kept firmly under control in difficult years, consolidating and even expanding its role as an international player, not only in wine and agro-food sectors, as well as driving force behind the internationalization of Italian companies and Made in Italy.

“The outgoing board has left important strategic projects on the discussion table that we will now assess in depth with our shareholders. These decisions cannot ignore the competitive environment in which Veronafiere operates.

“European and world markets where there is strong impetus towards concentration. The top ten European trade fairs cover 35% of turnover in the market coming to more than €14 billion and have more facilities and, especially, more financial resources. Veronafiere has impressive potential and is well set to consolidate its position in this constantly changing market.

“We will assess development plans very carefully, using the resources that the Government has set aside for trade exhibitions in the special Made in Italy promotion plan. The tools we shall use will be assessed with our shareholders.”

Danese is a shareholder of a group of companies supplying foodstuffs to the horeca (hotel/restaurant/café) food-serivice channel. He is vice president of the Verona Chamber of Commerce, deputy president of Confcommercio Verona and president of the Confidi Veneto credit-assurance institute.