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Giuseppe Pinto
The Italian soul of the Rapido Group Giuseppe Pinto has been the general manager of PLA Camper and Giottiline, the brands acquired by the French group Rapido at the end of 2016, for just over three years. This Italian manager tells us about his experience including the excellent results, innovations introduced and changes in the processes of design and production Words Antonio Mazzucchelli
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he Rapido group has controlled PLA Camper and its Giottiline brand 100% since 2019. This Italian company is based in the Italian “camper valley”, in Colle di Val d’Elsa (Siena). Giuseppe Pinto (47) has extensive experience in the automotive sector. He graduated in management engineering with a production technology focus, and has a master’s degree in Lean manufacturing. He has dealt with most areas of operations: production, logistics, purchasing, etc. For 11 years he worked in the Fiat group. Aboutcamp BtoB interviewed him at the beginning of June. Here’s what he told us. Aboutcamp BtoB: What is your training and what experience did you have before joining PLA? Giuseppe Pinto: I arrived in this industry three and a half years ago. My entry into the company was managed directly by Pierre and Nicolas Rousseau, who hold the reins of the group. I really appreciated the opportunity that was given to me, because instead of looking for the classic general manager in the commercial field, who already knew the market and customers or in the financial field, they chose a figure who knew production and was Italian. This is something I underline the importance of, because it would have been easy to take a trusted person, perhaps French, from within the group, and put him in charge of the Italian activities, but instead they preferred to look for a local manager who would facilitate the integration of the company within the group. I started working in the Fiat group, and also gained experience abroad: first in England and then almost two years in the U.S., before finally returning to Turin to take care of corporate projects that have also caused me to travel a lot. I have followed projects in the operations and supply chain of production plants throughout Europe, and then I was entrusted with the responsibility of an engine assembly operating unit in Turin, the NEF unit. When I arrived in Tuscany, I was plant manager and director
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