Navigate Through the Horizons of Management with Giandomenico Rivetti

1. What experiences led you to join AXCEL? Could you provide an overview of your professional journey?

I have enjoyed my professional experience with ABB: I dedicated nearly 35 years of my life to the company, having had the opportunity to learn and develop myself through the various roles I have had the chance to occupy and that ABB has allowed me to assume, from R&D to product management, through business development, general management of a large factory with an international role to managing a global company, as well as various roles in merger and acquisition processes. Above all, however, I have appreciated the opportunity to continuously meet people, always new and very interesting, from all continents and cultures, who have consistently enriched me as a person. The same motivation led me to join AXCEL Partners, with the added opportunity to meet and work with different industries, companies, and business activities: a unique opportunity that I perceived as such and which has proven to be even better in reality.

2. Could you describe the distinctive characteristics of the market you operate in at AXCEL Italy? How do you assess the stage of development of this market, as well as the size and nature of the companies within it?

Our Italian office is characterized by our international mindset: 50% of the projects have been executed in Italy and 50% in other European countries and the United States. This is a feature that also provides some insight into the industry in Italy: highly export-oriented. At AXCEL Partners, with our highly international talent pool, we adapt to this spirit of Italian businesses. We also work with European companies that are either present in Italy or have an interest in the country. Additionally, Italian managers are highly focused on Europe and are very eager to work for European companies and international projects.

Another distinctive characteristic of the market in Italy is the strong and widely distributed presence of SMEs as well as medium and large-sized enterprises. Regarding market development, I see great potential for transition management in Italy, a service to businesses that still needs to be properly understood and utilized to their advantage to help facilitate a faster and more goal-oriented approach to business development. Recently, we have added three new partners in Italy, which allows us to expand the skill base into new industries as well as provide better geographical coverage and local presence, which is of paramount importance in Italy.

3. What is the typical profile of transition managers within your team? And how does this diversity of profiles contribute to the success of missions?

Many manager profiles address transition management in Italy. Some senior managers have chosen transition management as a way of life because they see themselves as better suited to adding value in executing projects with clear and defined objectives to achieve. Others are senior managers who, after retirement, are willing to bring their highly valuable experience to companies: they are also highly appreciated even if they are available part-time. Managers who, for various reasons, leave their permanent jobs either voluntarily or involuntarily, possess specific skills that align well with the wide variety of profiles and tasks demanded by the industry. Then, there are consultants with highly specialized skills who can effectively assist in specific subjects: some examples include digitalization, sustainability, lean methodologies, as well as functional skills in human resources management, financial management (CFO), and financial control and administration (AF&C), procurement management, among others.