- IMD recognized De Agostini Group for its ability to evolve from its traditional cartography business into a diversified, leading-edge conglomerate with a global reach
- Award is regarded as the most prestigious for successful global family businesses
- Learn more about the IMD Global Family Business Center here and De Agostini Group here
Lausanne, Switzerland 11 October 2018 – De Agostini Group, a firm first established in Rome in 1901 and now headquartered in Novara and Milan, was awarded the 23rd annual IMD Global Family Business Award, sponsored by Pictet, at the 29th Summit of the Family Business Network International (FBN-I) in Venice, Italy.
Awarded by IMD, a top-ranked global business school, the prize is regarded as the most prestigious for successful global family businesses. The award recognizes firms that are exemplary in uniting family and business interests, combining tradition and innovation with clear corporate social responsibility imperatives.
“De Agostini Group is an outstanding family business that has for years successfully blended an enduring entrepreneurial spiritwith a strong commitment to family values, expressed in particular in the sustainable approaches to its various business activities,” commented IMD President Jean-François Manzoni. “De Agostini’s efforts at becoming a truly global investment holding based on numerous partnerships and M&A activities was remarkable, turning the traditional publishing house into a leading global powerhouse while maintaining family cohesion in the face of a radical professionalization and the development of comprehensive family governance structures. De Agostini Group is a most worthy recipient of this year’s prize.”
IMD recognized De Agostini Group for its ability to evolve from its traditional cartography business into a diversified, leading-edge conglomerate with a global reach. This was accomplished by professionalizing its corporate and family governance and a careful preparation of the next generation family members to become responsible owners.
“De Agostini offers inspiration to its peers on how to combine business and family goals”, said Rémy Best, managing partner of the Pictet Group. “I am pleased to extend our congratulations to the De Agostini family members for winning the award and to welcome them to the accomplished club of Award winners.”
“Receiving this prestigious global award, on behalf of the Drago / Boroli family, is a source of a great satisfaction and pride to the family and to the management of the firm,” commented Marco Drago, 3rd generation family shareholder and chairman of De Agostini. “It is a source of tremendous motivation to go forward into the future and to stay true to our founding principles,” added Stefania Boroli, 4th generation family shareholder and an investment manager in DeA Capital Alternative Funds SGR.
“The news about winning the IMD Global Family Business Award reached us during the annual shareholders’ meeting. It was a very emotional moment that made us, the family shareholders, feel even more connected,” said Paolo Albertini, 4th generation family shareholder and a legal counsel at De Agostini Editore. “Our family has traditionally stayed discreet despite our very successful business. To be recognized as a business is a pleasure, but to be recognized as a family is a true honor for all of our family shareholders,” said Nicola Drago, CEO De Agostini Publishing S.p.A.
This year, the IMD Global Family Business Award celebrates its 23rd anniversary and pays tribute to an extensive list of outstanding recipients. Previous winners include world-class family-owned companies such as LEGO, Ayala Corporation, S.C. Johnson, Hermès, Barilla, Yazaki Corporation, Merck, Firmenich, Bel Group, Bavaria, Jebsen & Jessen Family Enterprise and, most recently, Pentland Group.
All these successful family businesses serve as a reminder that the family business ownership model remains the most widespread in the world. As major sources of revenue, jobs and tax contributions, family businesses are key players in the global economic system and serve as models for long-term growth, profitability, stability and survival through periods of crisis.
The award trophy is crafted in aluminum, held between two glass plates fixed on a partially transparent base and presented in an elegant pear wood case bearing the shape of a tree – a symbol of family businesses. It was generously donated by the Scheufele family from Chopard and was crafted in Geneva.
