Beniamino Garofalo has been appointed the new CEO of Santa Margherita, one of Italy’s largest and most significant wine companies. He began in the role on 1 March 2020.
Garofalo has significant experience with multinational companies, having worked at PepsiCo, Heinz and Danone, as well as eight years with luxury goods group LVMH. Most recently, Garofalo was general manager for the Lunelli (Ferrari) group in Trento, a position he held for almost four years.
“I am extremely proud to be part of the Santa Margherita group, a company that has helped to change the position of Italian wine worldwide,” said Garofalo. “The group is characterized by a long-term project with an intensive investment period that has led to extraordinary results.”
His first task is to consolidate Santa Margherita after its recent expansionary phase, and integrate the newest wineries – Cà Maiol in Lugana and Cantina Mesa in Sardinia – into the group.
He will also continue the strategy of increasing the area under vines and will design a project for the further growth of all of the Group's brands, with a view to adapting to changes in consumer behaviour. "We can build on a solid foundation, on a motivated team in Italy and worldwide with 380 employees and the will of the shareholders to maintain the highest level of commitment in the wine sector," he said.
With a business turnover of €189m ($211m) in 2019, the Santa Margherita group is one of the ten biggest wine companies in Italy. The group includes the wineries of Santa Margherita, Torresella, Kettmeir, Ca 'del Bosco, Cà Maiol, Lamole di Lamole, Vistarenni, Sassoregale, Terrelíade and Cantina Mesa with a total of 690 hectares of vineyards.
Garofalo replaces Ettore Nicoletto, who left on 31 January 2020. Luca Marzotto has been running the business in the interim.
Veronika Crecelius
This article first appeared at weinwirtschaft.de and has been slightly modified.
