Friend of Italy
Roland Berger, founder of the consultancy which bears his name, was awarded the Italy's second highest honor: the cross of merit of the Grande Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana.
Antonio Puri Purini, the Italian Ambassador to Germany, honored Berger with the award at a ceremony in Berlin on January 17, citing his strong personal and professional ties to the country. In his statement, the ambassador underlined the important role Berger had played in helping to restructure the Italian industrial and financial systems through his work as a consultant over the past forty years. Ambassador Puri Purini also cited Berger's thorough understanding of Italy's business and financial worlds, and his tireless efforts toward enhancing the economic cooperation between Italy and Germany.
Only two years after founding his consulting company in Germany in 1967, Roland Berger chose to open his first subsidiary outside of Germany in northern Italy's Milan. The decision to open his first international office in the Veneto region was in some ways a very personal decision: Berger learned his trade in the years he worked there for Gennaro Boston, then a subsidiary of Boston Consulting. In 1990, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants opened a second office in Rome, to be closer to the political life and to businesses in the central and southern regions of the republic. Most recently, Roland Berger became a member of the board of directors and of the strategic committee of Italy's automotive giant, FIAT.
Antonio Puri Purini, the Italian Ambassador to Germany, honored Berger with the award at a ceremony in Berlin on January 17, citing his strong personal and professional ties to the country. In his statement, the ambassador underlined the important role Berger had played in helping to restructure the Italian industrial and financial systems through his work as a consultant over the past forty years. Ambassador Puri Purini also cited Berger's thorough understanding of Italy's business and financial worlds, and his tireless efforts toward enhancing the economic cooperation between Italy and Germany.
Only two years after founding his consulting company in Germany in 1967, Roland Berger chose to open his first subsidiary outside of Germany in northern Italy's Milan. The decision to open his first international office in the Veneto region was in some ways a very personal decision: Berger learned his trade in the years he worked there for Gennaro Boston, then a subsidiary of Boston Consulting. In 1990, Roland Berger Strategy Consultants opened a second office in Rome, to be closer to the political life and to businesses in the central and southern regions of the republic. Most recently, Roland Berger became a member of the board of directors and of the strategic committee of Italy's automotive giant, FIAT.
Roland Berger receives his award
In his acceptance speech, Roland Berger reflected on his longstanding personal and professional ties with Italy, and how his language skills had helped him secure his first big break into the world of consulting. He also pointed toward the unexploited business potential in the relationship between Germany and Italy. To fully benefit from the strong economic ties between the two countries, as founding members of the European Union, both had to look beyond the obvious: fashion.
"For Germany, Italy is the fourth largest export market, but for Italy, Germany is only number six, this means that Italian businesses are not fully exploiting their trade potential with Germany," he said. Italy was stronger in terms of technology, quality and design than most Germans believed. More than 20% of Italian exports were linked to mechanical engineering, and only 5% to the fashion industry. And Germans preferred Italian electronics, high-tech and automotive technology to Armani and Prada, when it comes to the bulk of the country's imports: these industries make up 40% - fashion only 5%.
"For Germany, Italy is the fourth largest export market, but for Italy, Germany is only number six, this means that Italian businesses are not fully exploiting their trade potential with Germany," he said. Italy was stronger in terms of technology, quality and design than most Germans believed. More than 20% of Italian exports were linked to mechanical engineering, and only 5% to the fashion industry. And Germans preferred Italian electronics, high-tech and automotive technology to Armani and Prada, when it comes to the bulk of the country's imports: these industries make up 40% - fashion only 5%.
Both sides, he argued, could continue to learn from one another in a relationship that was mutually beneficial, as strong partners in a strong European Union, with close personal and economic ties between Italians and Germans. He vowed to continue his own work toward furthering the friendship and business relationships between Italians and Germany, both in the boardroom and beyond.
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