Gallus Group has appointed Dario Urbinati to the role of chief executive officer, succeeding Dr. Frank Schaum, who will now head Heidelberg’s print segment. With 17 years of experience in the graphic arts industry and as its previous chief sales and service officer, Urbinati will continue to drive Gallus’ mission to turn the narrow web market towards a more sustainable and profitable future – providing revolutionary new technologies to achieve it, such as the recently launched Gallus One, the company said.
Urbinati comes to the role with significant experience in running label businesses, having served in senior positions with leading manufacturers around the world. Urbinati first joined Gallus in 2007, where he served nine years with the company – latterly as its managing director for Southeast Asia – driving growth and transforming the business and its culture. He then joined Omet China as its narrow/mid-web managing director, before becoming chief sales and marketing officer for Actega Metal Print, where he was instrumental in launching and then commercializing its breakthrough sustainable metallization technology.
Urbinati said, “I am honored to take up the role of Gallus CEO. This is a fantastic, growing business with incredibly talented and committed people and, with the might of Heidelberg behind us, an exciting trajectory for the future. While our ongoing mission is to support the success of our customers in the field, our wider ambition is to provide dynamic technologies and services to secure the future of the narrow web industry.”
Dr. Ludwin Monz, Heidelberg CEO, said, “Dario has been responsible for refocusing the business against a very clear vision for the future of labels. This has meant resetting the business in important areas by increasing customer service and support, boosting sales and marketing activities and much more. He has also introduced an ambitious sustainability program, with a landmark pledge to make our products carbon-neutral by the end of 2022. Gallus is an important pillar in the Heidelberg Group’s packaging business, which offers long-term growth potential and, importantly, shares our commitment to quality – and we are delighted to have Dario lead this business. I would also like to thank Dr. Frank Schaum, previously the Gallus Group CEO, for his excellent leadership to date, and we are pleased that he will remain as Chairman of the Gallus board.”
Under Urbinati’s stewardship, the business is also building a ‘Gallus Experience Center’ in St. Gallen, Switzerland. Expected to open in Spring 2023, the new facility is part of his vision for realizing ‘the label industry of the future’. The new facility has been specifically designed to aid collaboration across the industry, inviting customers, brands and suppliers from throughout the entire ecosystem to meet and share solutions, as well as develop new ideas to help solve key industry issues and create new opportunities.