The “Tiepolo 2026” Award to Giovanni Ferrero and Benito Tesier of Brembo

The “Tiepolo 2026” Award to Giovanni Ferrero and Benito Tesier of Brembo

(ANSA) - MADRID, 27 OTT - Giovanni Ferrero, executive chairman of the Ferrero confectionery group, and Benito Tesier Sierra, general manager of Brembo Iberia, are the winners of the 2026 Tiepolo Award, an honor bestowed upon business leaders who contribute to strengthening economic and commercial ties between Italy and Spain. The award, now in its 29th edition and established in 1996, is presented jointly by the Italian Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Spain (CCIS) and the Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations (CEOE), under the auspices of the Italian Embassy in Madrid. The award ceremony will take place on November 17 at the Italian Embassy, in the presence of Ambassador Giuseppe Buccino Grimaldi and representatives from institutions and businesses in both countries. The jury sought to recognize, in particular, the Ferrero Group’s strategic decision to focus on Spain as an industrial and technological platform for growth in Europe, as well as Tesier’s contribution to the development and consolidation of Brembo in the Iberian market. The group, founded in Alba, Piedmont, in 1946, is celebrating 80 years of operation this year as a family-owned business, now in its third generation. As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of packaged confectionery products, it employs over 50,000 people, operates in more than 170 countries, and generates revenue of nearly 20 billion euros. Its relationship with Spain dates back to 1985. In 1988, Ferrero Ibérica was established, with headquarters in Barcelona. Today, the company employs approximately 200 people on the Iberian Peninsula, across its offices in Cornellà de Llobregat (Barcelona) and Lisbon. On the Spanish market, the group is represented by the Ferrero Rocher, Kinder, Nutella, and Raffaello brands. Under the executive presidency of Giovanni Ferrero, the group has also expanded its operations into the ice cream segment, identifying Spain as a strategic market for the development of this category. In 2021, it acquired Ice Cream Factory Comaker (ICFC), which has its headquarters and production facility in Alzira, in the province of Valencia. The facility is set to become Ferrero’s European technology hub for ice cream production. To carry out the project, an initial investment of 140 million euros was approved, earmarked for technological and industrial modernization, the expansion of production capacity, and the introduction of new processes. The jury emphasized that this decision strengthens Spain’s role in the group’s European industrial strategy and serves as an example of how Italian investments contribute to the growth of Spain’s manufacturing sector. The second award recipient, Benito Tesier Sierra, is the general manager of Brembo Iberia and a key figure in the development of the Italian group’s operations in the Spanish market. The jury recognized his contribution to integrating local entrepreneurial expertise into an international industrial and commercial strategy. Brembo’s presence in Spain has evolved from its initial establishment in the Molins de Rei area, near Barcelona, to the consolidation of its operations in Aragon, in part through the collaboration between the Bombassei and Tesier families. The group has expanded its presence in the automotive sector and in the aftermarket—the market for replacement parts and post-sale services—including through the acquisition of J. Juan, a Spanish company specializing in motorcycle braking systems. In his leadership role, Tesier helped integrate the expertise and business relationships developed in the Spanish market with Brembo’s technological, industrial, and international capabilities, fostering business continuity and the company’s growth. With over 30 years of experience in the automotive sector, Tesier has also served as president of Ceoe Aragón since January 2026. According to the award citation, his career path demonstrates the value of collaboration between international capital and local entrepreneurial expertise in strengthening companies’ industrial capacity and international reach. Read article...