Executive Committee

Alberto Niero

Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

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Graduated in Economics from the University of Venice, in 1989 he began his professional experience in the Coin Group as Head of Management and Commercial Control OVS. After about 6 years in the Coin Group, from 1995 to 2011 he held the position of Global Commercial Director in various international companies operating in the world of sportswear and fashion, including Benetton, Tecnica, Lotto, Staff International. In 2011 he joined Airest as Head of Sales & International Development, developing the business in the United Arab Emirates and China in particular, where he also held the position of General Manager. In 2013, following the acquisition of Airest by the Lagardère Group, he assumed the position of Sales, Marketing & Development Vice President Italy.
In 2020, he became Chief Executive Officer, Italy.
He loves sports, especially basketball and water sports.

Giorgio Fipaldini

Chief Financial Office & Chief Business Office

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Graduated in Management Engineering from Padua and with an MBA from Cardiff Business School in the UK, he has many years of experience as a consultant to Accenture on corporate restructuring projects and business plans, at international groups such as Fiat Group, Electrolux Professional and General Electric. In 2006, he joined the Save Group as head of Strategic Planning, Business Development and Investor Relations. In 2010, he held the same roles, also assuming responsibility for management control of the Airest Group, later taking over the position as CFO of the company. At the end of 2013, following the Lagardère Group's acquisition of Airest, he became CFO of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia and has also been responsible for the Business Lines since 2020. He loves traveling and skiing and is a car enthusiast.

Andrea Arrighi

Human Resources & Organization

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Graduated in Law from the University of Ferrara, he attended an advanced course on HR at the Bocconi University in Milan. After an experience in Enimont (chemistry) in the field of Trade Union Relations, he was responsible for Industrial Relations in the Nordica/Benetton Sportsystem Group. From 1994 to 2002, he served as HR Director of Seima Group (automotive components) and later of Stefanel (fashion). From 2004 to 2010, he held the position of HR Director of Acegas Aps (multi-utility) and then joined Airest with the same role, assuming since 2015 the responsibility of the Human Resources & Organization Department of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia. He loves traveling, reading books and newspapers by the sea.

Piero Fuggi

Supply Chain & Customs

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Graduated in Economics, he began his career as an ERP Consultant in the tobacco industry. In 2005, he assumed the role of IT Project Manager FCO - Fiumicino Aeroporti Roma, gaining many years of experience in sales, retail and maintenance process re-engineering projects. The first contact with Lagardère occurred in 2013, with his participation in the start-up project of LTR Rome in the role of Chief Information Officer and responsible for relations with customs authorities. In 2017, following the acquisition of Airest by the Lagardère Group, he assumed Responsibility for the Supply Chain and Customs Department of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia. Piero loves travel fiction, opera and piano.

Alberto Signor

Information Technology & Indirect Purchasing

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Graduated in Computer Science from the University of Udine, after a brief experience as a UNIX systems engineer, he took on the role of IT manager in the Italian subsidiary of the SMS-DEMAG group and later in Acciaierie Bertoli Safau (DANIELI group). In 2010, he became Airest's IT manager, and in 2011, he took over the role of group CIO permanently. In 2015, following the acquisition by the Lagardère Group and the subsequent restructuring, he assumed responsibility as Chief Information Officer of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia. In 2017 he also assumed responsibility as Technical Office Director. From 2023, while continuing to hold the IT Department Management, he will assume responsibility for the Indirect Purchasing Office. Alberto loves skiing, soccer and walking in the mountains.

Velia Berardi

Operations

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After obtaining the Tour Operator Diploma, in 1987 she entered the Travel Retail sector becoming Shop Advisor in the Duty-Free division of FCO - Fiumicino Airports Rome. In 1998, she assumed responsibility for store logistics, eventually serving as Shop Supervisor for the PC part of all FCO stores in 2000. In 2004 she assumed the position as Store Manager of the most important store in Rome Airport (FCO1). In 2006 she also held the same position for the FCO4 and FCO2 stores, until becoming Operations Manager in 2008. In 2018, she became Operations Vice President for the Duty Free & Fashion Business Line in Italy and from 2021 she took on the role of Travel Essentials Operations Vice President in Italy in parallel.
As of January 2024, she assumed Sales Network Responsibility for all Italian Business Lines.
Velia loves the mountains and long walks in the countryside. In her spare time, she takes care of her own garden.

Francesca Tolentino

Legal & Corporate Affairs

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Graduated in Law from Bari University, she obtained a postgraduate diploma for the legal professions and qualified as a lawyer, working in a law firm specializing in civil and commercial law.
After completing a master's degree in law and international trade, her first experience as a corporate lawyer was in a multinational engineering company in Milan. In 2010, she assumed the role of legal department manager in Pam Franchising Spa, a company of the PAM Group (large-scale retail trade).
She joined Airest as Head of Legal Affairs in 2013 immediately prior to its acquisition by the Lagardère Group. She is currently in charge of the Legal & Corporate Affairs Department and is DPO of the Italian companies of the Lagardère Travel Retail group.

Alessandro Scandroglio

F&B Operations

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With his extensive professional and international experience in the restaurant industry, he has held various operational roles in Italy and abroad. His experience as a Bartender immediately took him to Mexico and London; he then became Assistant Bar Manager in Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Maldives, Sharm el Sheik. In Italy, he became Bar Manager in Milan, where he completed his studies and became Italian Barman Association-qualified (A.I.B.E.S) Barman. His career then continued as Food & Beverage Manager and MICE Manager in several Ho.re.ca. facilities.
He joined the Airest Group as Store Manager of three stores at Changi Airport Singapore, then became Coordinator and eventually Area Manager for the Venice Railway Hub, where he combined operational and managerial skills with leadership skills. His international profile and collaborative spirit make him a key person in sharing best practices with the entire Lagardère Travel Retail Group and constantly pushing the sales network for innovation.
As of January 2024, he assumed responsibility for the Food & Beverage Sales Network.
His greatest passion is traveling, playing sports and reading.

Barbara Parolin

Core Business & F&B Categories

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Graduated in Business Administration from Ca' Foscari University of Venice, she received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from the same university.
She has many years of experience as a consultant in corporate finance and low-interest financing, including in special financing projects (restructuring, M&A).
The consulting profession is combined with teaching experience in Corporate Finance at Ca' Foscari University, Venice and Treviso branches, as well as in training courses for various banking clients (including ABI Servizi, Intesa San Paolo and Banca Popolare di Milano).
In 2011, she joined the Airest Group as Business Controller, assuming responsibility for the Group's Management Control and Treasury after a couple of years.
In 2020, she assumed responsibility for the Department of Category Management and Master Data Management.
She is passionate about dancing, loves reading, traveling and hiking in her free time.

Daniela Chirumbolo

Retail Operations

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With more than 10 years of experience in Sephora, first as Store Manager and then Area Manager for stores in the Milan area, she has been responsible for P&L and people management, coordinating 16 Store Managers in the area.
From December 2023, she took over as Sales Network Director for Retail, based at Fiumicino Airport.
She is passionate about sports, in all forms, and loves traveling.

Angelo Scafuto

Macro Area Manager F&B

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From 1983 to 2002, he trained and grew professionally in the Autogrill Group where he held important managerial roles in Operations. He continued at Chef Express until 2014 as Chief Operating Officer, further consolidating his already significant experience in the Food & Beverage and Travel Retail business. From 2014 to 2020, he was responsible first for innovation and then for the development and management of Camst's Commercial Catering Division, also coordinating the Banqueting & Catering business. After a period spent as Food & Beverage Industry Senior Consultant, in August 2021 he assumed the responsibility of Food & Beverage Operations in Lagardère Travel Retail Italia. Since January 2024, he has been Macro Area Manager for the Food & Beverage Business Line. He loves traveling, the sea and sports, practicing dancesport as a competitive athlete.