TURIN. Exor is increasingly looking to new technologies and to strengthen its management team embarks Diego Piacentini, a world-renowned figure in the sector of technology companies. He will be advisor and president of Exor Seeds, the Exor venture investment business managed by Noam Ohana.
The only manager to have held positions of responsibility both at Apple (from 1987 to 2000) and at Amazon.com (from 2000 to 2016) in the years in which they debuted on the market, Piacentini, 61, was Commissioner for the implementation of Digital Agenda for the Italian government on the appointment of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi from 2016 to 2018. He is currently non-executive director of The Economist Group and advisor / director of other companies.
Exor, the holding company of the Agnelli family led by John Elkann, has invested more than 700 million dollars in the technology sector in recent years, including Via where it is today the most significant shareholder after the founders. Exor Seeds has made rounds of investments in more than 40 startups around the world, particularly active in the sectors of mobility, fintech and health. The appointment of Piacentini, explains the holding chaired by Elkann, will help Exor to support and refine the talent of young entrepreneurs in Italy, its country of origin, ensuring its contribution to various initiatives in which the company is engaged, such as the Italian Tech Week annual event and Vento, the new venturebuilding program supported by Exor. «Diego has a true entrepreneurial approach and has great leadership skills – comments Elkann, explaining the mission of the new manager – We are pleased to welcome him to Exor as an advisor to accelerate the development of the technological activities in which we are investing. Noam Ohana and his team at Exor Seeds will be able to count on his help in creating impactful partnerships with talented entrepreneurs ».
In turn, Piacentini does not hide his satisfaction. «I am happy to make my contribution to Exor Seeds’ business, to help identify and develop startups that have the potential to transform the sectors in which they operate, both locally and globally. A real passion also binds me to Italy, an underestimated entrepreneurial system, which is instead rich in unique gems in terms of creativity and talent innovation ».