Governance

Paola Stefani

Paola Stefani – daughter of Emi Stefani, co-founder of the Sofidel Group – is a shareholder and Chair of the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A. – the holding company of the industrial group of the same name, which wholly owns the shares of all the companies that are part of it – and is among the world leaders in terms of production capacity in the tissue sector (paper for hygienic and household use).

Upon completion of her studies, she joined Sofidel, where she worked in logistics, between 1984 and 1994, acquiring in-depth knowledge related to the production and marketing of paper for hygienic and household use.

For over 20 years Paola Stefani has been a member of the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A. as a Director, since March 2025 she has held the position of Chair of the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A.

Luigi Lazzareschi

Luigi Lazzareschi is the Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors of all Italian and foreign companies of the Sofidel Group, one of the leading manufacturers of paper for hygienic and household use worldwide.

With a master’s degree in business administration from the University of South Carolina, he took over the Group’s Marketing department in 1988. It was in this capacity that he laid the foundations for the growth of the Regina brand, which helped Sofidel reach the top spot among Italian exporters in the industry in just a few years.

After the death of his father, Giuseppe (Group co-founder together with Emi Stefani), he took over his responsibilities in 1993. He then led the subsequent expansion and internationalization phase which, through considerable investments both in Italy and abroad, had the company support the development of the large international distribution chains.

The new millennium has recorded a further acceleration and, thanks to the acquisition of additional production capacity and established brands, in 2010 Sofidel became the second largest player in Europe.

Still under his leadership, in 2012 the Group achieved yet another milestone: the expansion of the commercial and productive activity in the United States. In the same years, he strategically chose to make sustainability a fundamental lever of development and innovation for Sofidel.

He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Giuseppe Lazzareschi Foundation.

Some other major recognitions received by Luigi Lazzareschi for his impact on paper industry:

In April 1999 Luigi Lazzareschi was appointed Knight of the Italian Republic.

In May 2003, Luigi Lazzareschi was awarded Commander of the Italian Republic.

In 2009 Luigi Lazzareschi received the Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award (Communications field).

In 2012 Luigi Lazzareschi received the Transatlantic Award from the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy for Sofidel significant investments in the United States.

In 2014 Luigi Lazzareschi was included in the RISI Top 50 Power List, the annual list of the world’s most influential people in the paper industry.

In 2015  Luigi Lazzareschi received his second Transatlantic Award from the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy for Sofidel significant investments in the United States.

In 2016 he was appointed Ambassador for the WWF Italy 50th anniversary.

In 2017 he received the Tuscan-American Association Award “for his work both as the Italian Ambassador to the WWF, as well as for his significant contribution creating jobs in the US through Sofidel America”.

In 2018, Luigi Lazzareschi has been inducted in the Paper International Hall of Fame (PIHF), the small number of big names in the global tissue production industry. An induction that rewards his efforts in pursuing sustainable development and in expanding the business of the Group.

In 2024, he received his third Transatlantic Award from the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy for Sofidel’s significant investments in the United States.

Nicolò Stefani

Nicolò Stefani is Managing Director on the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A. – the holding company of the industrial group of the same name, which wholly owns the shares of all the companies that are part of it – and is among the world leaders in terms of production capacity in the tissue sector (paper for hygienic and household use).

After high school, he moved to the United States where he earned several certificates from Boston University in Business Management.

Upon completing his American experience, he spent a year in the United Kingdom at the Sofidel UK plants, where he was able to learn more about the production processes of the tissue paper industry.

For about 10 years, he enriched his experience by working in various departments of the Sofidel Group.

In March 2021, he joined the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A. as a Director.

Following the death of his father, Edilio Stefani, in January 2025, Nicolò Stefani was appointed as Managing Director on the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A. in March 2025, assuming all the attributions and signatory powers previously held by his father, including responsibilities on the Boards of all subsidiaries.

Davide Giacomelli

Davide Giacomelli is a representative of the third generation of one of the two founding families of the Sofidel Group (Lazzareschi). He is a member of the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A. – the holding company of the industrial group of the same name, which wholly owns the shares of all the companies that are part of it – and is among the world leaders in terms of production capacity in the tissue sector (paper for hygienic and household use).

After graduating high school, Davide completed his studies at Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He then moved to the United States where he attended the University of Oregon, graduating with a degree in Economics.

Shortly after, he moved to Chicago, Illinois, for work, where he pursued a personal interest by obtaining a degree from DePaul University in Philosophy, followed by a Master of Science in Business Analytics.

In July 2020 Davide Giacomelli returned to Italy and joined the Sofidel Group, where he currently holds the position of Consolidated Financial Statement Controller.

As of March 2025, has been appointed as a Director on the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A.

Federico De Matteis

Federico De Matteis is a representative of the third generation of one of the two founding families of the Sofidel Group (Stefani). He is a member of the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A. – the holding company of the industrial group of the same name, which wholly owns the shares of all the companies that are part of it – and is among the world leaders in terms of production capacity in the tissue sector (paper for hygienic and household use).

After completing his high school education, he continued his international studies between Boston and Shanghai, eventually graduating from Hult International Business School in London with a degree in Business Administration specialized in Finance.

He began his professional career in the private capital sector at the Fondo Italiano d’Investimento in Milan.

At the beginning of 2021, he returned to Lucca and joined the Sofidel Group in Italy, within the Financial & Treasury department. Federico De Matteis is currently working in the United States for Sofidel America, with cross-functional responsibilities in Financial and Operations.

As of March 2025, he has been appointed as a Director on the Board of Directors of Sofidel S.p.A.

Chiara Mio

Full professor of the Department of Management at the Ca ‘Foscari University of Venice, Chiara Mio is an economist known internationally for her attention to issues of sustainability and corporate social responsibility.

She collaborates with various economic magazines and is part of organizations that deal with promoting sustainability policies on a global scale.

Coming from Pordenone, she crosses the university research path with the corporate practice also by participating as a member of the Board of Directors of primary listed companies (for example Danieli, OVS, Eurotech) and not. In March 2021 she joined the Sofidel Board of Directors as an external director.

Since October 2014 she has been Chairman of Crédit Agricole FriulAdria (Crédit Agricole Italia Banking Group).

Since 2020 member of the IFAC board (International Federation of Accountants).

Since 2021 Vice-Chair SME and Sustainability, Accountancy Europe, Brussels.

From 2015 to 2020 she was President of the ESG Reporting Task Force, Accountancy Europe, Brussels.

From 2006 to 2012 she was the municipal councilor of Pordenone.

Silvio Bianchi Martini

A Full professor in the Department of Economics and Management at the University of Pisa, Silvio Bianchi Martini is a business economist who focuses on issues concerning corporate strategy and policy. He taught for many years, first as an associate, and then as an adjunct professor at the Bocconi University in Milan.

During his tenure at the University of Pisa, he has held the posts of Director of the Department of Economics and Management, Director of the Master’s Program in Auditing and Internal Control, Director of the Master’s Program in Corporate Governance and Strategy, President of the Graduate Program in Corporate Strategy and Governance, President of the Fibonacci Doctoral School in Business, Economics and Mathematical-Statistical Sciences applied to economics and also Member of the Academic Senate.

In March 2021, he joined the Sofidel Board of Directors as a Director.

Living in Lucca, his university research intersects with experience in corporate supervisory boards of listed companies.

Andrea Munari

He graduated in Political Economics from Bocconi University in Milan.

Starting his career at Standard Chartered in Milan (1989 – 1991), he moved on to the Fixed Income and Trading sectors at Morgan Stanley (1991 – 1997) in London and Paris.

He then worked in France as Managing Director of Barclays Capital (1997 -2000), before returning to Morgan Stanley, again as Managing Director (2000 – 2006).

In 2006, he returned to Italy as Chief Executive Officer of Banca Caboto and then Director General of Banca IMI (2007 – 2013).

He has served as Chief Executive Officer of Credito Fondiario since February 2014.

Since 26 November 2015, he has been Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of BNL SpA, Head of BNP Paribas for Italy and member of the BNP Paribas Executive Board until 27 April 2021.

He has been President of Findomestic Banca since 28 January 2016.

As of 28 April 2021, he assumed the role of BNL Chairman, ending his term as Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer and Head of BNP Paribas for Italy.

He was a member of the Innovation Board of the Ca’ Foscari Foundation of the University of Venice until December 2016.

He was a member of the Advisory Board of ENI Trading & Shipping and until January 2017 was Director and Vice Chairman of the Italian Stock Exchange.

He was a Board Director and member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the London Stock Exchange Group from 2007 to 2016.

He was a Board Director of the Foundation for Cultural Heritage and Church Arts from May 2019 to May 2022.

He has been a member of the ABI Executive Board since January 2016 and a director of the BNL Foundation since February 2016.

He has been a member of the Executive Board of the BNP Paribas Foundation since January 2017.

Since June 2017, he has been a member of the Advisory Board of the Associazione Amici della LUMSA.

Since October 2018, he has been a Board Director of the Telethon Foundation.

Since April 2020, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of ISPI, Istituto Italiano di Studi di Politica Internazionale [Italian Institute of International Politics Studies].

He has been a member of the Board of Directors of SOFIDEL since March 2021.

Since June 2021, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Assonime and takes office as General Representative on the General Council of Unindustria. Since January 2022, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of Koinos Capital SGR S.p.A. Since May 2022, he has been a member of the Fondazione Cortile dei Gentili Board of Directors.

Alessandro Solidoro

Alessandro Solidoro is a Chartered Accountant and Auditor (CPA) in both Italy and England.

He is Vice President (since 2014) of Accountancy Europe (Brussels), an umbrella body for about 50 professional organizations from 35 countries representing about 1 million accountants, auditors and qualified consultants.

A Member of the Supervisory Board and Audit Committee (since 2011) and Chairman of the Risk Committee (since 2020) of Deutsche Bank Spa.

He benefits from solid, well-rounded professional experience in corporate crisis management, litigation technical consulting, governance and control of medium- and large-sized enterprises.

He supports business organizations in pre-bankruptcy and bankruptcy, as well as in liquidation. He attests to the feasibility of debt restructuring transactions in reorganization plans, restructuring agreements, and arrangements with creditors.

He supports his clients; industrial, commercial, financial enterprises, national and international banking groups and their stakeholders; both in civil litigation, with compensation claims or general corporate asset valuations, as well as criminal litigation.

He advises on the verification of the technical aspects of liability proceedings against directors and auditors and on the existence or otherwise of the prerequisites for corporate and insolvency offences.

A member of the Board of Directors of Opera Diocesana per la Preservazione e Diffusione della Fede [Diocesan Work for the Preservation and Spreading of Faith] since 2014.

Chairman of the Board of Directors, of Collegio San Carlo and its Foundation since 2018.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of FACEC Foundation (training) since 2020.

Chairman of the Board of Statutory Auditors of Galbusera S.p.A. (since 2019), Pirola Corporate Finance S.p.a. (since 2016), and Grifols Italia S.p.a. (since 2017).

President of the Rome Biomedical Campus University Foundation Board of Auditors since 2015.

Member of the Board of Auditors Fondazione Ente Autonomo Fiera Internazionale of Milan since 2016.

Member of the Board of Statutory Auditors Fondazione Fiera Parking S.p.a. since 2017.

He was Sole Director of Azienda Municipale Ambiente AMA S.p.a., Rome in 2016.

He was a member of the Municipality of Palermo Judging Committee from 2017 to 2018.

Director of the National Council of Certified Public Accountants for the 2017 – 2021 term.

Chairman of the Order of Chartered Accountants of Milan for the 2010-2016 term.

He is author and co-author of numerous publications and in particular on insolvency and corporate restructuring (Giappichelli, Euroconference, Il Societario, Giuffrè Editore).

A member of the Working Group for “revision of attestation principles,” the Working Group on “Principles for the preparation of reorganization plans,” and the “International Observatory on business crisis and reorganization.”

Antonio Pace

Antonio Pace is Senior Partner and Head of Milan Office (Continental Europe) for Hitecvision, one of the largest private equity fund in Europe; he has been Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR since 2019 to May 2022. He was most recently managing founder of the Morgan Stanley Investcorp Geo-Risk Fund in New York.

Prior to that, for 10 years, he was Managing Director Head of Strategic Equity at investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston, between London and Milan.

For the previous 10 years, after working at Morgan Stanley International Limited in London, he was co-head of Strategic Equity for Southern Europe at Société Générale, between Paris, London and Milan.

He is Professor of “Risk Management” at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, member of the Advisory Board of the EMCFB of the SDA Bocconi School of Management, formerly Professor of International Financial Markets at Università Bocconi, where he also graduated; he is FSA certified in London, he participated in Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking program in London School of Economics and he furthered his studies at INSEAD in Fontainebleau, Investment Banking program.