Nerio ALESSANDRI

Chairman and Founder, TechnoGym

Driven by an insatiable entreprenurial ambition and a passion for mechanics, some 20 years ago at the age of 22, Nerio Alessandri created Technogym – The Wellness Company. Now the world leader in products and services for complete psyco-physical wellness and rehabilitation, the company has also spearheaded an all-round lifestyle all’Italiano based on regular physical activity, balanced diet and a positive mental approach. Wellness as a way of life, an improved quality of living, is an approach that embraces the individual and also contributes to better productivity while lowering health care costs.

Nerio Alessandri is at the helm of what is now an international company. Headquartered in Cesena Italy, where 1000 of the 1400 employees worldwide are based, the company also has 12 direct branches worldwide in Europe, Usa and Asia and exports 85% to 100 countries. With innovation as an all-embracing theme, Technogym is a company that shares its vision across the board with all employees and collaborators — so much so that in 2003 the company was awarded “Great Place to Work” praised as one of the top in Europe for it company culture and growth opportunities.

In less than 20 years Technogym has gone from its modest beginnings in a “small-town garage” to the Olympic Games in Sydney, Athens and Torino, where they were the ufficial exclusive suppliers.
Not only does Technogym supply numerous European and international sports teams, like Ferrari Formula One drivers, the most important professional soccer clubs such as Juventus, Milan, Inter, Barcellona and Chelsea train with Technogym as do sailing crews for the America’s Cup amongst them Alinghi and Prada. To date more than 50,000 installations around the world are used by 30 milion Technogym enthusiasts.

Since the late 90s, Alessandri has been walking his talk and laying out plans to give watershed for his dedication to “corporate social responsibility.” Projects to improve mobility and access for baby boomers at risk, those with disabilities and to combat obesity along with pathologies resulting from it. In 2003, the Wellness Foundation was formed to propose and promote a lifestyle for better health and sustain prevention.

• In 2001 Alessandri was nominated ‘Cavaliere del Lavoro’ (Italian industry knighthood), becoming the youngest recipient in the country’s history.
• In 2003 awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.
• In March 2004 becomes part of the Italian Industrialists Association – Confindustria – as part of the governing advisory board. April of the same year receives honorary degree in Motor Sciences from the University of Urbino and is presented with the Leonardo Award for Italian Quality in the president’s palace — the Quirinale — in Rome.
• In 2005 the University of Bologna awards Alessandri with an honorary degree in Biomedical Engineering and the University of Bocconi with “Results Award” as a continiual-growth enterprise.