Executive Committee

Alberto Niero

Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director

Graduated in Economics from the University of Venice, in 1989 he began his professional experience in the Coin Group as Head of Management and Commercial Control OVS. After about 6 years in the Coin Group, from 1995 to 2011 he held the position of Global Commercial Director in various international companies operating in the world of sportswear and fashion, including Benetton, Tecnica, Lotto, Staff International. In 2011 he joined Airest as Head of Sales & International Development, developing the business in the United Arab Emirates and China in particular, where he also held the position of General Manager. In 2013, following the acquisition of Airest by the Lagardère Group, he assumed the position of Sales, Marketing, Purchasing & Development Vice President Italy. In 2020, he became Chief Executive Officer, Italy.

Giorgio Fipaldini

Chief Financial Office & Chief Business Office

Graduated in Management Engineering from Padua and with an MBA from Cardiff Business School in the UK, he has many years of experience as a consultant to Accenture on corporate restructuring projects and business plans, at international groups such as Fiat Group, Electrolux Professional and General Electric. In 2006, he joined the Save Group as head of Strategic Planning, Business Development and Investor Relations. In 2010, he held the same roles, also assuming responsibility for management control of the Airest Group, later taking over the position as CFO of the company. At the end of 2013, following the acquisition of Airest by the Lagardère Group, he became CFO of Lagardère Travel Retail Italy. From 2020 to 2025, in addition to his role as CFO, he also took on responsibility for the Business Lines. Since 2025, he has returned to focusing exclusively on the role of Chief Financial Officer.

Andrea Arrighi

Human Resources & Organization

Graduated in Law from the University of Ferrara, he attended an advanced course on HR at the Bocconi University in Milan. After an experience in Enimont (chemistry) in the field of Trade Union Relations, he was responsible for Industrial Relations in the Nordica/Benetton Sportsystem Group. From 1994 to 2002, he served as HR Director of Seima Group (automotive components) and later of Stefanel (fashion). From 2004 to 2010, he held the position of HR Director of Acegas Aps (multi-utility) and then joined Airest with the same role, assuming since 2015 the responsibility of the Human Resources & Organization Department of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia.

Piero Fuggi

Supply Chain & Customs

Graduated in Economics, he began his career as an ERP Consultant in the tobacco industry. In 2005, he assumed the role of IT Project Manager FCO - Fiumicino Aeroporti Roma, gaining many years of experience in sales, retail and maintenance process re-engineering projects. The first contact with Lagardère occurred in 2013, with his participation in the start-up project of LTR Rome in the role of Chief Information Officer and responsible for relations with customs authorities. In 2017, following the acquisition of Airest by the Lagardère Group, he assumed Responsibility for the Supply Chain and Customs Department of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia.

Alberto Signor

Information Technology & Indirect Purchasing

Graduated in Computer Science from the University of Udine, after a brief experience as a UNIX systems engineer, he took on the role of IT manager in the Italian subsidiary of the SMS-DEMAG group and later in Acciaierie Bertoli Safau (DANIELI group). In 2010, he became Airest's IT manager, and in 2011, he took over the role of group CIO permanently. In 2015, following the acquisition by the Lagardère Group and the subsequent restructuring, he assumed responsibility as Chief Information Officer of Lagardère Travel Retail Italia. In 2017 he also assumed responsibility as Technical Office Director. From 2023, while continuing to hold the IT Department Management, he will assume responsibility for the Indirect Purchasing Office.

Velia Berardi

Operations

After obtaining the Tour Operator Diploma, in 1987 she entered the Travel Retail sector becoming Shop Advisor in the Duty-Free division of FCO - Fiumicino Airports Rome. In 1998, she assumed responsibility for store logistics, eventually serving as Shop Supervisor for the PC part of all FCO stores in 2000. In 2004 she assumed the position as Store Manager of the most important store in Rome Airport (FCO1). In 2006 she also held the same position for the FCO4 and FCO2 stores, until becoming Operations Manager in 2008. In 2018, she became Operations Vice President for the Duty Free & Fashion Business Line in Italy and from 2021 she took on the role of Travel Essentials Operations Vice President in Italy in parallel. As of January 2024, she assumed Sales Network Responsibility for all Italian Business Lines.

Francesca Tolentino

Legal & Corporate Affairs

Graduated in Law from Bari University, she obtained a postgraduate diploma for the legal professions and qualified as a lawyer, working in a law firm specializing in civil and commercial law. After completing a master's degree in law and international trade, her first experience as a corporate lawyer was in a multinational engineering company in Milan. In 2010, she assumed the role of legal department manager in Pam Franchising Spa, a company of the PAM Group (large-scale retail trade). She joined Airest as Head of Legal Affairs in 2013 immediately prior to its acquisition by the Lagardère Group. She is currently in charge of the Legal & Corporate Affairs Department and is DPO of the Italian companies of the Lagardère Travel Retail group.

Alessandro Scandroglio

F&B Operations

With his extensive professional and international experience in the restaurant industry, he has held various operational roles in Italy and abroad. His experience as a Bartender immediately took him to Mexico and London; he then became Assistant Bar Manager in Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife, Maldives, Sharm el Sheik. In Italy, he became Bar Manager in Milan, where he completed his studies and became Italian Barman Association-qualified (A.I.B.E.S) Barman. His career then continued as Food & Beverage Manager and MICE Manager in several Ho.re.ca. facilities. He joined the Airest Group as Store Manager of three stores at Changi Airport Singapore, then became Coordinator and eventually Area Manager for the Venice Railway Hub, where he combined operational and managerial skills with leadership skills. As of January 2024, he assumed responsibility for the Food & Beverage Sales Network.

Barbara Parolin

Core Business & F&B Categories

Graduated in Business Administration from Ca' Foscari University of Venice, she received her Ph.D. in Business Administration from the same university. She has many years of experience as a consultant in corporate finance and low-interest financing, including in special financing projects (restructuring, M&A). The consulting profession is combined with teaching experience in Corporate Finance at Ca' Foscari University, Venice and Treviso branches, as well as in training courses for various banking clients (including ABI Servizi, Intesa San Paolo and Banca Popolare di Milano). In 2011, she joined the Airest Group as Business Controller, assuming responsibility for the Group's Management Control and Treasury after a couple of years. In 2020, she assumed responsibility for the Department of Category Management and Master Data Management.

Silvia Mazzuccato

CSR, External Communication & Digital Marketing

Graduated in Business Administration from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, with a specialization in Marketing, her professional career has mainly developed in the commercial field, within highly competitive environments, with a strong focus on the management and development of sales networks. In 2018, after holding managerial roles in companies such as FASTWEB S.p.A. and H3G S.p.A., where she significantly contributed to the expansion of sales networks, she took on the role of Business Development Director at Lagardère Travel Retail Italia, supporting the opening of numerous stores in strategic airports and railway stations across Italy. Since 2024, she has held the position of CSR, External Communication & Digital Marketing Director, with responsibility for defining marketing and communication strategies, promoting the growth of digital channels, and enhancing corporate performance and commitment in the area of corporate social responsibility.

Simone Lusina

Technical Office

Graduated in Architecture from the University of Trieste, he furthered his education with a Master's degree and specialized courses in interior design, retail design, management, and artificial intelligence applied to business. Since 2007, he has been part of Illycaffè, where he oversaw the design and engineering of retail spaces, eventually taking on responsibility for the design and development of monobrand stores on a global scale, coordinating international teams and managing special projects aimed at strengthening the brand. Since 2025, he has held the role of Technical Office Director at Lagardère Travel Retail Italia, bringing his expertise to lead projects focused on design and innovation.

Alessandra De Gaetano

Marketing & Purchasing

Graduated in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan, she initially pursued an academic career before shifting towards the corporate sector, specializing in Marketing. She gained extensive and valuable experience within the Autogrill Group, where she held roles of increasing responsibility in the service and retail sectors, both nationally and internationally, with assignments in Marketing, Operations, and Development. Her journey within the Group culminated in the role of Chief Operating Officer for Italy and later as General Manager for Spain. She then served as Global Retail Director at Illy Caffè, leading the international retail network and driving significant innovations in both concept and organizational structure. Since September 2025, she has held the position of Executive Director of Marketing & Purchasing Officer at Lagardère Travel Retail Italia, with operational and managerial responsibility for the Duty Free & Luxury, Travel Essentials, Dining Business Lines, and Purchasing.