Giovanni Sacripante appointed new general manager of Veronafiere
Giovanni Sacripante is the new General Manager of Veronafiere Spa. A professional with consolidated experience in general management, digital transformation, business development, and the organization of major events, Sacripante returns to the Verona Exhibition Centre, where he previously served as Commercial Director from 2010 to 2012.
During his previous tenure at Veronafiere, the company recorded 20% EBITDA growth and saw its market share rise to 16.6%, while launching an international expansion process through trade fair agreements and the Group’s first acquisitions in Brazil. The appointment by the Board of Directors consolidates Veronafiere’s organizational structure and aims to strengthen its management capability to translate strategic directives into concrete projects: a functional setup designed to support the development of trade shows in a scenario marked by the increasing internationalization of markets and the integration of physical activities with new digital business tools.
Sacripante will also work on defining the new Business Plan, which will build on the momentum of “ONE Veronafiere 2024-2026.” The current plan reaches completion this year after supporting the strengthening of brands in Italy and abroad, the expansion of the exhibition portfolio, and the evolution of services and infrastructure.
«With Giovanni Sacripante, Veronafiere welcomes back a manager who understands our organization and the exhibition industry, while bringing a wealth of expertise gained in major multinational companies, large-scale events like Expo Milano 2015, and complex organizations,» comments Federico Bricolo, President of Veronafiere. «His profile combines a results-oriented approach, a capacity for innovation, and an international vision: key qualities to guide the next phase of Veronafiere’s development as an event factory capable of creating, developing, and directly organizing events with strong brand equity, such as Vinitaly, Marmomac, Fieracavalli, Fieragricola, SaMoTer, and Progetto Fuoco.»
«I thank the President and the Board of Directors for their trust,» states Giovanni Sacripante, General Manager of Veronafiere. «Returning to Veronafiere means reconnecting with an extraordinary ecosystem that marked a milestone in my professional career. I assume this role with a deep sense of responsibility and a clear determination to leverage the skills acquired in diverse contexts, which are now vital for the evolution of the exhibition industry. We will place teamwork, the care and empowerment of our people at the center, while accelerating innovation and our ability to anticipate macro market trends to deliver timely, competitive solutions to businesses. Here at the exhibition center, we are fully aware that we are building strategic platforms serving the country’s most vital industry supply chains—platforms that bring together leading companies in global markets. It is precisely toward their development that we will direct our next phase of growth.»
Giovanni Sacripante will step into his role as the new General Manager of Veronafiere starting in September. Prior to him, the position was held by Adolfo Rebughini.
PROFILE
Graduating summa cum laude in Economics and Commerce in 1992, Giovanni Sacripante completed his executive education at Harvard Business School through the Executive General Management Program. He began his career in the consumer goods sector at Procter & Gamble, taking on increasing commercial and marketing responsibilities before becoming Customer Business Development Manager. He then moved to L’Oréal Paris as Commercial Director, overseeing the strategic repositioning of high-potential market segments.
In 2004, he joined Retail Group Spa, where he initially served as Commercial Director, later becoming General Manager and CEO. In 2010, he joined Veronafiere for the first time as Commercial Director, a position he held until 2012. He was then recruited by Expo 2015 Spa, serving first as General Manager leading the Sales, Marketing & Business Development Division, and later as head of the Commercial and Administrative/Operations Division for the Italy Pavilion. Following his appointment as General Manager Italy for the multinational food company Deoleo (concurrently serving as Vice President of Assitol), he joined the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). As Business & Marketing Director and subsequently Marketing and Digital Content Director, he contributed to the strategic repositioning of the commercial area and the Federation’s digital transformation by developing CRM systems, new content, and media platforms. He also coordinated the launch of the eSports project—focused on younger demographics and now an international benchmark—and led the Paralympic and Experimental Football Division, establishing a global model of excellence. In September 2026, he assumes the role of General Manager of Veronafiere Spa.