Biesse Group Proposes New CEO

Board of Directors proposed that Dr. Giovanni Barra be appointed to the Board of Directors with the specific role of Chief Executive Officer. The Pesaro based Group, which since 2001 has been listed in the Star segment of the Italian stock exchange, operates in the markets for wood, glass and marble processing machinery. Dr. Barra has been an active member of the Group’s management team since October 5, and will be nominated as CEO at the Shareholders’ Meeting on November 12, 2009.
 
Giovanni Barra, 49, originally from Turin, Italy, comes to Biesse having significant international experience in numerous major multinational organizations. Most recently, Dr. Barra was with the Fiat Group, and has experience with Fiat Holding, FL Lubrificanti, Fidis Servizi Finanziari, Iveco, New Holland in the U.K. and for the past ten years has worked with CNH (Case New Holland) in Brazil and the USA. He holds a degree in Business Economics from the University of Turin, and is married to Fabia.
 
“Giovanni Barra’s arrival represents an important phase for our company”, stated Roberto Selci, Chairman of Biesse S.p.A.. “I wanted him to join our company, because his years of experience in process structured multinational companies will enable him to transfer his abilities, experience and innovation to Biesse, and guide us towards the completion of an organizational model which Biesse has been applying over the past two years. The ultimate objective is the transformation of Biesse into a truly Lean Company. The choice of an external manager is consistent with the company’s willingness to reinforce its management team while at the same time implementing a gradual process of separating responsibilities and roles particularly with regard to the major shareholder”.
 
“I enthusiastically accept this important position which enables me to become part of a dynamic leader in its market which still has considerable potential”, stated Giovanni Barra. “We will become even more competitive and successful by implementing more ordered management of the company’s processes”.