Work Experience
2017 to date - Founder and CEO, We Global - International Business Consulting Network, Bari, Italy
Please refer to www.weglobal.info
1993 to 2017 – Founder and President, Diva Eris – International Marketing Consultants, Bari, Italy
Diva Eris - International Marketing Consultants is a business consulting network, focused on supporting the internationalization process of SMEs. I designed the business format of Diva Eris and founded the company, building a reliable network of well-skilled and experienced business consultants of various nationalities, including Theresa Mulloy (UK, co-founder of the company, now managing director at SPRINT - Puglia Region Internationalization Board), Asayo Takazawa (J), Sumitomo Watanabe (J), Maxi Torau (GER), Clare Williams (NZ), Yuliya Krumova (US), Jan Percy Fabiàn Còrdova Salcedo (BOL), Alicia Prieto (ARG), Marijana Nikolova Tchengelijeva (BG), Verce Trajkova (MK), Vjola Topa (ALB).
I served some 80 clients and operated in 30 countries worldwide to present, including Europe (West, North, South and East), America (North and South), Middle East, India, Nepal, China, Korea (South), Japan.
HIGHLIGHTS
Coan Italia Group – I designed and supported the company’s marketing strategy through a strategic repositioning and a global internationalization plan. The strategy implementation led Coan Italia – a leading brand in underwear fashion – to entering new markets and reaching the astonishing ratio of 95% in sales in foreign markets; in 1993 I designed and planned the company’s offshore outsourcing process in Albania (gents’ underwear) and Bulgaria (ladies’ underwear), implementing it to the full operational stage by the end of 1994.
Venus Fort Shopping Mall, Tokyo – I designed and managed “Festa di Puglia, Italia!”, a territorial marketing program for the promotion of food and tourism of Puglia Region. Due to its high-quality structure, the program was included in the official calendar of events of ‘Italy in Japan 2001-2002’, a governmental program chaired by Umberto Agnelli and aimed at boosting the image of Italy in Japan. The event, which marked the record figure of some 40,000 visitors over 10 days, took place at Venus Fort, the most innovative theme mall in Japan. Over 30 manufacturing companies took part in the event, jazzed up by the folk band Ziringaglia and by live performances by papier-mâché maestro Baldari. The success of the event paved the way to Diva Eris’ further successful territorial marketing events.
TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile), Milan – I was entrusted by Allaxia Spa with the design and management of pilot marketing actions for TIM, Italy’s leading group in the mobile phone market (Master TIM project); after the success of the pilot actions the project was upgraded to the nationwide level.
Alfa Romeo, Milan – I was entrusted by Allaxia Spa with the design and management of pilot marketing actions for Alfa Romeo car maker; after the success of the pilot actions the project was upgraded to the nationwide level.
Mangini Group, Italy – I supported Mangini, a leading Italian manufacturing company specialized in office partitions, in the design and kick-off stages of its internationalization process. After successfully entering some European markets, I carried out an on-field marketing research in China (2011-2012) and selected the most proper partner for setting up a manufacturing JV. I managed (2012-2013) the JV's establishment process, including its strategy plan and business plan design and implementation (the factory is operational since 2014). Afterwards the company proposed my winning joint-venture format to the Brazilian market.
ICE - Italian Trade Commission, Tokyo – In 2002 a comprehensive field research on the fashion business in Japan was tendered by ICE - Italian Trade Commission. My research project won the international tender and after some 6 months the study was completed, with the support of Asayo Takasawa who provided language and logistics support for vis-à-vis interviews in Japan. The 246-page study was awarded with a presentation to the international press. The press conference was held at Palazzo delle Stelline, ICE’s ceremony hall, in Milan.
Confindustria, Italy – I was entrusted in 1996 by Confindustria Bari with the supervision of marketing activities for the Promoter project, funded by the European Commission, aiming at setting up a pilot e-commerce innovative platform.
European Commission (Europe Aid Programme), Nepal – My project EbuNeP (Europe Buying Nepalese Products) was selected and funded by the European Commission (2004). I carried out successfully the project’s activities in 8 months, including a thriving business mission to Nepal composed of specialized carpet buyers from Italy, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Finland, who visited several carpet manufacturers selected by CCIA (Central Carpet Industry Association), the project’s local partner. Pushed by several Nepali carpet makers, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal, called a press conference in Kathmandu (December 4, 2004) to announce the astonishing results of the business mission, awarding me with a Certificate of Appreciation, “in honour and appreciation of the valuable contribution towards strengthening relationship between Nepal and Italy, to promote the Nepalese carpets in the European markets”.
Tourism development, Italy – Alta Murgia is a rural territory in S/E Italy rich in environmental and historical resources. I was entrusted by Mayor Di Tullio with the task of designing a tourism development project for the region. My comprehensive project – including international tourism attraction strategy, training courses for employers and employees, financial incentives for new tourism ventures, educational tours for foreign tour operators et alia - was presented to the public in mid-June, 2012, winning the enthusiastic approval of 100% of the local institutions, including 9 Municipalities, 2 Provinces and 1 National Park, that unanimously signed on the spot a Memorandum of Understanding asking Puglia Region to provide funding for the project’s implementation.
2007–2011 - Managing Director, Fiera del Levante Servizi, Bari, Italy
A company controlled by Fiera del Levante, among the oldest and biggest Italian exhibition fairgrounds, entrusted by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development with the task of designing and managing projects aimed at supporting the after-war economic reconstruction and development in South-East Balkans countries.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I was brought on board to consolidate the company and save it from going bankruptcy. I turned around the company from a loss making business to profit by the end of year one, increasing fourfold its turnover and keeping the company profitable during the following 3 years.
- Upon restructuring the company activities, I boosted the company staff by recruiting a multinational group of 8 skilled young people, including nationals of Italy, Germany, Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria. I rewrote the company’s policies and procedures, and rebuilt a strong cooperation link with the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, gaining funding worth 1.5 Million euro for the projects I designed and managed.
- I re-opened the Pan-European Corridor VIII Technical Secretariat, located at Fiera del Levante in Bari, Italy, and activated a 2-year study program involving the Ministries of Transport of Italy, Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria that led to a trans-national governmental approval of 3 feasibility studies on the road, railway and port systems of Corridor VIII.
- I designed and managed 8 transnational projects (Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria) in the fields of Tourism and Green Economy.
- I rewrote the traditional format of the Italian Fair in Albania (Fiera del Levante in Albania) held in Tirana since 2001, transforming it in a specialized trade exhibition, doubling the exhibition turnover, reducing the costs by 50% and bringing it to a profit-making activity.
- I designed a 2-step innovative strategy for supporting the penetration of Italian SMEs in the Macedonian market, starting with the first Italian-Macedonian Business Forum (Skopje, May 2010) in the presence of the Italian Deputy Minister Adolfo Urso, followed by the Week of Italian SMEs in Macedonia (Skopje, October 2010); the participation of 60 leading Italian SMEs gained Italy the status of 2010 Partner Country, welcomed by the participation of H.E. the Ambassador of Italy in Skopje.
1986-1992 - Partner and Managing Director, Cerpem – Centro Ricerche per il Mezzogiorno, Bari, Italy
I joined Cerpem, a leading private institute of socio-economic and economic-territorial research, with the goal of widening its activity to business consulting and marketing research.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I managed the company and redoubled its turnover, transferring the company office to a new high-end location and redesigning the secretarial staff.
- I designed, planned and implemented market research and surveys for private companies, among which Consorzio Novimpresa, owned by FIAT and IBM, Ala Fantini Group, RDB, Assobeton-Confindustria, Erisys Spa (Ericsson Group), Italcostruzioni Spa, Fiera del Levante, Master Sport Group, Cassa di Risparmio di Puglia.
- I provided technical lead to socio-economic research projects commissioned from Italian and foreign customers, among which CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italian national council for research).
- I designed and managed a survey aiming at analysing market opportunities in Italy for a selected group of Chilean products on behalf of Iceps-Cepal (Federation of Chilean Entrepreneurs).
- Appointed by Confindustria, Italy’s leading entrepreneurs’ association, I designed, planned and implemented a pilot training project aimed at boosting the management skills of 10 successful fashion business entrepreneurs, rounded up with a final three-day full immersion training session at Riva dei Tèssali Golf Club (Taranto, Italy).
1986–1993 – Marketing consultant, Formez, Rome, Italy
I was entrusted with consulting activities focused on supporting the development of SMEs in Southern Italy through specific consulting programs: PMA-Puglia 1986 and 1987, Assindustria-Sicilia 1988, Assindustria-Bari 1989, Assindustria-Salerno 1989.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I designed and managed some 10 strategic marketing projects for private manufacturing SMEs in the fields of construction, chemistry, metallurgy and electronics, gaining an honour mention by Corlegno Srl for the excellent service provided to their company.
- I was entrusted (1990) with the strategic monitoring of Azione Organica 2, supervising projects implemented by the Italian leading vocational training agencies focused on enterprise creation and entrepreneurial skills development.
- I was invited (1992) to join a pilot work team, including university teachers (Prof. Raffaele Cercola, Federico II University, Naples) and business administration consultants (Ivano Tienforti, Rome), working on innovative programs for the development of entrepreneurship in less developed areas in Southern Italy.
- Teamworking with my colleagues, I reviewed a research on entrepreneurship carried out by AEA - American Entrepreneurs Association, focusing on the analysis of the ideal-typical profile of the successful entrepreneur. I adapted the theoretical framework and the empirical tools of the American research to the socio-economic framework of Southern Italy.
1985-1988 – Founder and Managing Director, Arvis Produzioni Televisive, Bari, Italy
A small company specialized in TV productions, Arvis carried out commercials, journalistic services and short films.
HIGHLIGHTS
“Tracce di Puglia”, a 90’ documentary film awarded by Puglia Region, shot in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, NYC, on the life of people of Italian ancestry.
1980-1984 - General Manager, Consorzio per lo Spettacolo, Bari, Italy
I was brought on board by the President of Consorzio per lo Spettacolo, an association of theatrical, musical, ballet companies operative in the entertainment business, aimed at marketing their activities in the Italian domestic market.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I designed and managed two innovative formats of open-air theatrical and musical events to be performed in historical places in South-East Italy (“Palcoscenico in Puglia”, 1980-1981 and “Invito a Corte”, 1982-1984).
- After a hard 3-year work I succeeded in overtaking the regional market leader in the entertainment business (Consorzio Teatro Pubblico), both in turnover and in events performed.
1977-1979 - Founder and Managing Director, Syrena - Security Systems, Bari, Italy
A start-up venture carried out as a side activity during my university studies, based on the cooperation with a former schoolmate. My young business partner and I jointly designed, assembled, marketed, sold, installed and maintained burglar alarm systems for home and office.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I designed and launched a burglar alarm coming with an innovative, user-friendly dashboard, tailored to the needs of home users.
- I introduced a new and winning marketing strategy based on building a database of families that suffered thefts at home in the last year and sending them customized promotional letters.
Please refer to www.weglobal.info
1993 to 2017 – Founder and President, Diva Eris – International Marketing Consultants, Bari, Italy
Diva Eris - International Marketing Consultants is a business consulting network, focused on supporting the internationalization process of SMEs. I designed the business format of Diva Eris and founded the company, building a reliable network of well-skilled and experienced business consultants of various nationalities, including Theresa Mulloy (UK, co-founder of the company, now managing director at SPRINT - Puglia Region Internationalization Board), Asayo Takazawa (J), Sumitomo Watanabe (J), Maxi Torau (GER), Clare Williams (NZ), Yuliya Krumova (US), Jan Percy Fabiàn Còrdova Salcedo (BOL), Alicia Prieto (ARG), Marijana Nikolova Tchengelijeva (BG), Verce Trajkova (MK), Vjola Topa (ALB).
I served some 80 clients and operated in 30 countries worldwide to present, including Europe (West, North, South and East), America (North and South), Middle East, India, Nepal, China, Korea (South), Japan.
HIGHLIGHTS
Coan Italia Group – I designed and supported the company’s marketing strategy through a strategic repositioning and a global internationalization plan. The strategy implementation led Coan Italia – a leading brand in underwear fashion – to entering new markets and reaching the astonishing ratio of 95% in sales in foreign markets; in 1993 I designed and planned the company’s offshore outsourcing process in Albania (gents’ underwear) and Bulgaria (ladies’ underwear), implementing it to the full operational stage by the end of 1994.
Venus Fort Shopping Mall, Tokyo – I designed and managed “Festa di Puglia, Italia!”, a territorial marketing program for the promotion of food and tourism of Puglia Region. Due to its high-quality structure, the program was included in the official calendar of events of ‘Italy in Japan 2001-2002’, a governmental program chaired by Umberto Agnelli and aimed at boosting the image of Italy in Japan. The event, which marked the record figure of some 40,000 visitors over 10 days, took place at Venus Fort, the most innovative theme mall in Japan. Over 30 manufacturing companies took part in the event, jazzed up by the folk band Ziringaglia and by live performances by papier-mâché maestro Baldari. The success of the event paved the way to Diva Eris’ further successful territorial marketing events.
TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile), Milan – I was entrusted by Allaxia Spa with the design and management of pilot marketing actions for TIM, Italy’s leading group in the mobile phone market (Master TIM project); after the success of the pilot actions the project was upgraded to the nationwide level.
Alfa Romeo, Milan – I was entrusted by Allaxia Spa with the design and management of pilot marketing actions for Alfa Romeo car maker; after the success of the pilot actions the project was upgraded to the nationwide level.
Mangini Group, Italy – I supported Mangini, a leading Italian manufacturing company specialized in office partitions, in the design and kick-off stages of its internationalization process. After successfully entering some European markets, I carried out an on-field marketing research in China (2011-2012) and selected the most proper partner for setting up a manufacturing JV. I managed (2012-2013) the JV's establishment process, including its strategy plan and business plan design and implementation (the factory is operational since 2014). Afterwards the company proposed my winning joint-venture format to the Brazilian market.
ICE - Italian Trade Commission, Tokyo – In 2002 a comprehensive field research on the fashion business in Japan was tendered by ICE - Italian Trade Commission. My research project won the international tender and after some 6 months the study was completed, with the support of Asayo Takasawa who provided language and logistics support for vis-à-vis interviews in Japan. The 246-page study was awarded with a presentation to the international press. The press conference was held at Palazzo delle Stelline, ICE’s ceremony hall, in Milan.
Confindustria, Italy – I was entrusted in 1996 by Confindustria Bari with the supervision of marketing activities for the Promoter project, funded by the European Commission, aiming at setting up a pilot e-commerce innovative platform.
European Commission (Europe Aid Programme), Nepal – My project EbuNeP (Europe Buying Nepalese Products) was selected and funded by the European Commission (2004). I carried out successfully the project’s activities in 8 months, including a thriving business mission to Nepal composed of specialized carpet buyers from Italy, France, Netherlands, Luxembourg and Finland, who visited several carpet manufacturers selected by CCIA (Central Carpet Industry Association), the project’s local partner. Pushed by several Nepali carpet makers, Bharat Mohan Adhikari, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal, called a press conference in Kathmandu (December 4, 2004) to announce the astonishing results of the business mission, awarding me with a Certificate of Appreciation, “in honour and appreciation of the valuable contribution towards strengthening relationship between Nepal and Italy, to promote the Nepalese carpets in the European markets”.
Tourism development, Italy – Alta Murgia is a rural territory in S/E Italy rich in environmental and historical resources. I was entrusted by Mayor Di Tullio with the task of designing a tourism development project for the region. My comprehensive project – including international tourism attraction strategy, training courses for employers and employees, financial incentives for new tourism ventures, educational tours for foreign tour operators et alia - was presented to the public in mid-June, 2012, winning the enthusiastic approval of 100% of the local institutions, including 9 Municipalities, 2 Provinces and 1 National Park, that unanimously signed on the spot a Memorandum of Understanding asking Puglia Region to provide funding for the project’s implementation.
2007–2011 - Managing Director, Fiera del Levante Servizi, Bari, Italy
A company controlled by Fiera del Levante, among the oldest and biggest Italian exhibition fairgrounds, entrusted by the Italian Ministry of Economic Development with the task of designing and managing projects aimed at supporting the after-war economic reconstruction and development in South-East Balkans countries.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I was brought on board to consolidate the company and save it from going bankruptcy. I turned around the company from a loss making business to profit by the end of year one, increasing fourfold its turnover and keeping the company profitable during the following 3 years.
- Upon restructuring the company activities, I boosted the company staff by recruiting a multinational group of 8 skilled young people, including nationals of Italy, Germany, Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria. I rewrote the company’s policies and procedures, and rebuilt a strong cooperation link with the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, gaining funding worth 1.5 Million euro for the projects I designed and managed.
- I re-opened the Pan-European Corridor VIII Technical Secretariat, located at Fiera del Levante in Bari, Italy, and activated a 2-year study program involving the Ministries of Transport of Italy, Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria that led to a trans-national governmental approval of 3 feasibility studies on the road, railway and port systems of Corridor VIII.
- I designed and managed 8 transnational projects (Italy, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria) in the fields of Tourism and Green Economy.
- I rewrote the traditional format of the Italian Fair in Albania (Fiera del Levante in Albania) held in Tirana since 2001, transforming it in a specialized trade exhibition, doubling the exhibition turnover, reducing the costs by 50% and bringing it to a profit-making activity.
- I designed a 2-step innovative strategy for supporting the penetration of Italian SMEs in the Macedonian market, starting with the first Italian-Macedonian Business Forum (Skopje, May 2010) in the presence of the Italian Deputy Minister Adolfo Urso, followed by the Week of Italian SMEs in Macedonia (Skopje, October 2010); the participation of 60 leading Italian SMEs gained Italy the status of 2010 Partner Country, welcomed by the participation of H.E. the Ambassador of Italy in Skopje.
1986-1992 - Partner and Managing Director, Cerpem – Centro Ricerche per il Mezzogiorno, Bari, Italy
I joined Cerpem, a leading private institute of socio-economic and economic-territorial research, with the goal of widening its activity to business consulting and marketing research.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I managed the company and redoubled its turnover, transferring the company office to a new high-end location and redesigning the secretarial staff.
- I designed, planned and implemented market research and surveys for private companies, among which Consorzio Novimpresa, owned by FIAT and IBM, Ala Fantini Group, RDB, Assobeton-Confindustria, Erisys Spa (Ericsson Group), Italcostruzioni Spa, Fiera del Levante, Master Sport Group, Cassa di Risparmio di Puglia.
- I provided technical lead to socio-economic research projects commissioned from Italian and foreign customers, among which CNR – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (Italian national council for research).
- I designed and managed a survey aiming at analysing market opportunities in Italy for a selected group of Chilean products on behalf of Iceps-Cepal (Federation of Chilean Entrepreneurs).
- Appointed by Confindustria, Italy’s leading entrepreneurs’ association, I designed, planned and implemented a pilot training project aimed at boosting the management skills of 10 successful fashion business entrepreneurs, rounded up with a final three-day full immersion training session at Riva dei Tèssali Golf Club (Taranto, Italy).
1986–1993 – Marketing consultant, Formez, Rome, Italy
I was entrusted with consulting activities focused on supporting the development of SMEs in Southern Italy through specific consulting programs: PMA-Puglia 1986 and 1987, Assindustria-Sicilia 1988, Assindustria-Bari 1989, Assindustria-Salerno 1989.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I designed and managed some 10 strategic marketing projects for private manufacturing SMEs in the fields of construction, chemistry, metallurgy and electronics, gaining an honour mention by Corlegno Srl for the excellent service provided to their company.
- I was entrusted (1990) with the strategic monitoring of Azione Organica 2, supervising projects implemented by the Italian leading vocational training agencies focused on enterprise creation and entrepreneurial skills development.
- I was invited (1992) to join a pilot work team, including university teachers (Prof. Raffaele Cercola, Federico II University, Naples) and business administration consultants (Ivano Tienforti, Rome), working on innovative programs for the development of entrepreneurship in less developed areas in Southern Italy.
- Teamworking with my colleagues, I reviewed a research on entrepreneurship carried out by AEA - American Entrepreneurs Association, focusing on the analysis of the ideal-typical profile of the successful entrepreneur. I adapted the theoretical framework and the empirical tools of the American research to the socio-economic framework of Southern Italy.
1985-1988 – Founder and Managing Director, Arvis Produzioni Televisive, Bari, Italy
A small company specialized in TV productions, Arvis carried out commercials, journalistic services and short films.
HIGHLIGHTS
“Tracce di Puglia”, a 90’ documentary film awarded by Puglia Region, shot in Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, NYC, on the life of people of Italian ancestry.
1980-1984 - General Manager, Consorzio per lo Spettacolo, Bari, Italy
I was brought on board by the President of Consorzio per lo Spettacolo, an association of theatrical, musical, ballet companies operative in the entertainment business, aimed at marketing their activities in the Italian domestic market.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I designed and managed two innovative formats of open-air theatrical and musical events to be performed in historical places in South-East Italy (“Palcoscenico in Puglia”, 1980-1981 and “Invito a Corte”, 1982-1984).
- After a hard 3-year work I succeeded in overtaking the regional market leader in the entertainment business (Consorzio Teatro Pubblico), both in turnover and in events performed.
1977-1979 - Founder and Managing Director, Syrena - Security Systems, Bari, Italy
A start-up venture carried out as a side activity during my university studies, based on the cooperation with a former schoolmate. My young business partner and I jointly designed, assembled, marketed, sold, installed and maintained burglar alarm systems for home and office.
HIGHLIGHTS
- I designed and launched a burglar alarm coming with an innovative, user-friendly dashboard, tailored to the needs of home users.
- I introduced a new and winning marketing strategy based on building a database of families that suffered thefts at home in the last year and sending them customized promotional letters.