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Entrepreneurs and excellent Italian small and medium enterprises: a combination for continuity and growth

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Our story

An accurate indication about the direction of the wind blow

Italy is the eighth largest manufacturing economy in the world and the second largest in Europe, with approximately 140 industrial districts forming the backbone of its national economic system. Around 160,000 SMEs operate in Italy, driving the country’s development and innovation.

However, the growth of Italian SMEs is often challenged by:

  • Lack of succession planning and limited managerial structures
  • Restricted access to medium- and long-term capital for investments and new projects
  • Difficulties in expanding international sales and fully leveraging technological potential

It is precisely in response to these medium- and long-term needs of Italian small and medium enterprises that WindeX was founded. WindeX’s mission is to support successful Italian SMEs in their growth journey, while also providing its co-investors with structured access to direct private equity investments.

Speed and professionalism

WindeX operates with speed and professionalism in closing the deals and any subsequent add-on.

Business Transformation

WindeX provides direct support in the business transformation process by implementing the WindeX Transformation System.

Experience and competences

WindeX actively involves entrepreneurs and managers in the management of the companies, leveraging their proven professional experience and expertise.

Absence of exit constraints

WindeX manages portfolio companies without predefined limits on the investment period, reducing stress related to the exit.

Our team

A team of operationally-driven professionals at the disposal of the Italian SMEs.

Rolando Benedick

Rolando Benedick

Chairman and Co-founder
Domenico Sibilio

Domenico Sibilio

CEO and Co-founder
Bruno Chiomento

Bruno Chiomento

Board Member
Luca Donato

Luca Donato

Investment Manager
Michele Mercuri

Michele Mercuri

Associate
Ivan Petrone

Ivan Petrone

Associate
Paolo Mastrostefano

Paolo Mastrostefano

Operating Partner – Business Development
Antonio Rasino

Antonio Rasino

Operating Partner – Finance
Francesco Cristofanelli

Francesco Cristofanelli

Operating Partner – Supply Chain

A pragmatic approach for Italian SMEs

Broadening the horizons of Italian SMEs through a hands-on approach.

Investment Approach
Rolando Benedick

Rolando Benedick

Chairman and Co-founder

Renowned Swiss entrepreneur with more than 40 years of experience in the retail distribution and food retail industry.

He held the role of CEO and Chairman of Manor Group, a leading company active in the retail distribution sector, and Valora Group, a leading food retail company with more than 2,700 active stores.

He was the founder and Chairman of the Leopard Club, the reference association of the Locarno Film Festival.

He was a member of the Board of Directors of several multinational groups, including Galleries Lafayette (a French group specializing in large-scale retail distribution), Barry Callebaut (a global leading company in the production of chocolate and cocoa products), and Jacobs Holding (investment holding headquartered in Switzerland). He also held the role of Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Swiss group MFSA and the role of Vice Chairman of MCH Messe Switzerland Group.

He is currently a member of the Strategic Committee of Moulin Group (the reference shareholder of Galleries Lafayette, Carrefour, and La Redoute) and a member of the Board of Directors of VI VorsorgeInvest AG (a leading Swiss asset management company).

Domenico Sibilio

Domenico Sibilio

CEO and Co-founder

Linkedin

Entrepreneur in the Private Equity industry with about 25 years of experience in finance and in industrial operations management.

He managed several international transactions - both as an institutional investor and as a financial advisor - working within leading international entities such as Sun Capital Partners, Deloitte Financial Advisory, and Ernst Young Corporate Finance.

He coordinated – as a principal investor – the acquisitions of several manufacturing companies, taking on the CEO role and leading the firms toward international growth before managing their sales to Private Equity funds.

He graduated cum Laude in Corporate Finance from Bocconi University in Milan, he is an accredited chartered accountant and auditor, and he achieved the "Lean Six Sigma Black Belt" certification from the Lean Six Sigma Institute of San Diego.

Bruno Chiomento

Bruno Chiomento

Board Member

Linkedin

Accomplished professional with over 30 years of experience in audit and business consulting at Ernst & Young. He held the position of CEO of EY Switzerland from 2009 to 2016 and Chairman from 2016 to 2020. He was also Chairman of Autogrill SpA in 2023.

Currently, he is Chairman of Neutra Treuhand AG, a tax consulting and audit firm, and a member of the Board of Directors at Bergos AG, an independent Swiss private bank. He is also a member of the Compensation Committee of FIFA.

He graduated in Economics and Business Administration from Basel University and achieved an Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

Luca Donato

Luca Donato

Investment Manager

Linkedin

Investment professional with over 7 years of experience in Private Equity and Asset Management. Part of WindeX since the beginning of 2022.

Formerly, he held the position of Investment Professional at CDP Equity - the Italian sovereign wealth fund - working on deal execution and investment management of large-cap companies in the manufacturing, digital, and telecommunication industries. In addition, he gained previous experience in Asset Management at Credit Suisse.

He graduated in Management Engineering (MSc, BSc) from Politecnico di Milano with a major in Finance. He attended an exchange program at Kedge Business School in Bordeaux.

Michele Mercuri

Michele Mercuri

Associate

Linkedin

Investment professional with over 3 years of experience in the Private Equity and Audit sectors. Part of WindeX since mid-2022.

Formerly, he held the position of Financial Services Auditor at Price Waterhouse Coopers supporting audit activities for banks, asset management companies, and mutual funds.

He graduated in Business Administration and Finance (MSc, BSc) from Bocconi University in Milan. He attended an exchange program at Emory University Goizueta Business School in Atlanta.

Ivan Petrone

Ivan Petrone

Associate

Linkedin

Investment professional with over 3 years of experience in the Banking and Securitized Products sectors. Part of WindeX since mid-2024.

Previously, he held the position of Associate at Morgan Stanley working on Secured Lending, Warehouse Financing, and Collateral Analysis. Furthermore, he gained previous experience in Amazon and Clearstream Banking.

He graduated in Economics and Management (BSc) from Bocconi University. He also completed a Master of Science in Financial Economics from Tilburg University.

Antonio Rasino

Antonio Rasino

Operating Partner – Finance

Linkedin

Accomplished professional with over 40 years of experience in the management control and financial administration areas of international industrial companies.

After several roles, he took on the role of Administrative and Financial Director of TI Automotive – a company active both in the automotive and refrigeration industries.

Thereafter, he held the position of CFO of Bundy Refrigeration. The company – owned by the Private Equity player Sun Capital & Partners (US) – operates in the production of components for the refrigeration industry. Also, he was – for a short period of time – General Manager of the group’s Italian subsidiary.

Currently, he advises industrial companies on M&A, financial management, administration procedures, and management control.

Paolo Mastrostefano

Paolo Mastrostefano

Operating Partner – Business Development

Linkedin

Accomplished professional with over 30 years of experience in leading industrial companies, serving also as CEO of some of them.

He began his career in Centro Ricerche FIAT and eventually developed in Gruppo Loccioni, where he worked as a Business Unit Manager. After a short period in the USA working for SEAT Pagine Gialle, he came back to Italy, where he joined Gruppo Elica. There, he focused on low-cost area manufacturing, spin-off, and commercial development.

In 2005 he held the Director position of the semiconductor producer SMIC in Shanghai. In 2007 he repatriated and became CEO of Gitronica SpA and Gitronica Tunisia.

In 2017 he joined Interpump and led several of the group’s subsidiaries as President/CEO, working also on M&A transactions. In 2021 he started cooperating with the Private Equity fund IGI and became CEO of Test Industry.

He graduated in Electronic Engineering from the Università Politecnica delle Marche and also deepened his education by studying Psychological Sciences and Techniques from Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia. Further, he was given an Award in Business Studies from the University of California.

Francesco Cristofanelli

Francesco Cristofanelli

Operating Partner – Supply Chain

Linkedin

Accomplished professional with over 20 years of experience in leading industrial companies, serving also as COO of some of them.

He began his career working for Indesit Company as Sourcing Product Development Manager. Then, he moved to F.lli Bertazzoni Spa, where held the position of Procurement and Planning Manager.

In 2018 he joined TVS as Procurement Manager and, after two years, Fabita appoints him as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.

Currently, he is the CEO of TAK TIME SRLS, where he serves over 20 companies (in several industries) in supply chain restructuring.

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