Agostino Scornajenchi was appointed as head of CDP Venture Capital in October 2023, taking over from Enrico Resmini who had been in office since 2020, thus from the birth of CDP’s venture capital arm. Scornajenchi had also presented, in April 2024, a business plan to support the development of the Italian ecosystem of start-ups and innovative companies. Now there is a need to renew the top management, and the two Italian ecosystem associations Italian Tech Alliance and InnovUp have issued a joint note to emphasise the need for the matter to be resolved as soon as possible. It should be remembered that about a year passed between Resmini’s departure and Scornajenchi’s arrival, because it is absolutely essential that CDP Venture Capital continue in its essential work to give the country the chance to increase its competitiveness in support of companies that innovate.
Italian Tech Alliance, the Italian association of venture capital, innovation investors and innovative Italian startups and SMEs, and InnovUp, the non-profit association that brings together and represents the Italian innovation sector, congratulate Agostino Scornajenchi on his appointment as CEO of Snam, and thank him for his work in the eighteen months at the helm of CDP Venture Capital.
The Associations hope that the choice of his successor will be made promptly, in the name of continuity and valuing professionals with proven experience in the sector, so as to guarantee stability and strategic vision to a crucial sector for the growth of the Italian economy.
“Italian Tech Alliance thanks Agostino Scornajenchi and wishes him all the best,’ commented Francesco Cerruti, general manager of Italian Tech Alliance, in a note. ‘The expectation at this point is that decisions will soon be taken on the appointment of the new CEO of CDP Venture Capital, so as to ensure continuity with the work done in recent years, and above all that the choice of the new CEO will be oriented towards a figure who already knows the sector and its peculiarities. This is particularly important considering how the succession is taking place halfway through a crucial mandate for the body and for the entire innovation ecosystem, whose central role in the country’s development is unanimously recognised. What must be avoided in the first place is a repetition of the factual blockage of activities that we witnessed in the months preceding Scornajenchi’s appointment. We also believe that the medium-term objective is to align with the best practices of entities similar to CDP Venture Capital in other European countries, in which management remains unchanged for several years, in a dynamic that naturally allows for the creation of greater harmony with the market’s timeframe”.
“On behalf of the board of InnovUp and the entire Association, I would like to express my sincere thanks to outgoing CEO Agostino Scornajenchi for the work he has done since September 2023 at the helm of CDP Venture Capital,” says Chiara Petrioli, president of InnovUp. “His commitment, together with that of the board of directors, has significantly contributed to strengthening the Italian venture capital market, which has reached investments of €1.9 billion, consolidating a path of growth and credibility. However, there is still a long way to go to compete internationally. At this time of transition, it is crucial that the new leadership is found in the sign of continuity and competence. The Italian innovation ecosystem needs solidity, vision and timeliness now more than ever. We hope that the new leadership will make the most of what has been built, thanks in part to an in-depth knowledge of the entrepreneurial fabric that CDP Venture Capital has helped to support and develop. InnovUp confirms its full readiness for dialogue and collaboration with the future governance, in the conviction that a shared approach, based on trust and expertise, can further strengthen the role of venture capital as a strategic lever for Italy’s competitiveness. Together we can continue to grow a dynamic, inclusive innovation sector that is capable of generating value for the national economy’. (photo Governo.it)
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