Who Leads Procurement at Five Leading Italian Companies?

Italy's manufacturing heritage and design excellence place unique demands on procurement leadership. Italian CPOs operate at the intersection of artisanal tradition and modern supply chain efficiency, managing supplier networks that span specialised craftspeople and large-scale industrial partners. 

Procurement Magazine examines the leaders who are defining procurement excellence across Italy's most prominent companies, from automotive and fashion to mechanical engineering and consumer goods, discovering how they balance heritage with innovation and local expertise with global reach.

Energy sector leadership: Stefano Ciurli, Head of Global Services at Enel

Enel is a leading global energy company headquartered in Italy, specialising in electricity generation, distribution and renewable energy solutions across multiple countries. It focuses on innovation and sustainability to transition to a decarbonised energy future.

Stefano Ciurli became Head of Global Services, which looks after Global Procurement, for the Enel Group in July 2023. He earned a degree in Economics and Business from LUISS University in Rome in 1987 and launched his career at Telecom Italia, where he progressed through increasingly senior roles spanning finance, administration, control, international development, procurement, logistics, real estate, energy, customer services and wholesale operations.

Between 2003 and 2005, Ciurli served as CFO of Tim SpA, overseeing the company's merger with Telecom Italia SpA. He then spent four years as Chief Procurement Officer of TI Group (2008–2012), followed by roles as Executive Vice President of the Caring Services Division (2012–2014) and Executive Vice President of Wholesale (2015–2018). From 2019 to 2023, he led PTS, an Italian consulting firm, as Chief Executive Officer.

Throughout his career, Ciurli has served on numerous national and international boards, including positions at Telepiù, TESS, Saritel, Telecontact and PTS.

Driving significant transformation: Costantino Chessa, Head of Procurement at Eni

Eni is an Italian multinational energy company, primarily operating in petroleum, natural gas and petrochemicals, with extensive global operations and a strong focus on energy transition and sustainability. Founded in 1953, it is one of Europe's largest oil companies, with diversified energy production.

Constantino Chessa is an energy sector executive with over 25 years of experience. He has held senior management positions across procurement, human resources, organisational development and change management at national and international levels. His expertise includes leading major transformation initiatives such as post-merger integration, cost optimisation, digital transformation and energy transition programmes.

He earned a degree in Business Economics from Bocconi University and began his career at Saipem, where he spent 11 years developing extensive expertise in human resources. During his tenure, he progressed through roles in organisational development, talent management and industrial relations, and participated in several post-acquisition integration projects.

Joining Eni in 2008, Constantino advanced through various management roles in human resources, organisation and continuous improvement before taking on responsibilities as Programme Director for Eni's major cost-reduction and digital transformation initiatives.

Since 2018, he has served as Head of Procurement, overseeing Eni's global procurement operations and managing direct purchasing for central functions. In this role, he is driving significant transformation across the supply chain to align with Eni's energy transition and decarbonisation objectives, whilst also spearheading digital innovation, process improvement and capability development within the function.

Since 2019, he has served as a Board Member of Eni Rewind, Eni's environmental subsidiary focused on circular economy projects. In this capacity, he contributes to initiatives that sustainably restore and recover industrial land, water resources and waste through efficient reclamation and recovery solutions.

Insurance and financial services innovation: Stefan Koller, Chief Procurement Officer at Generali

Generali is one of the largest integrated insurance and asset management groups worldwide. Established in 1831, it is present in over 50 countries in the world.

With around 87,000 employees serving 71 million customers, the Group has a leading position in Europe and a growing presence in Asia and Latin America. At the heart of Generali's strategy is its Lifetime Partner commitment to customers, achieved through innovative and personalised solutions, best-in-class customer experience and its digitalised global distribution capabilities.

The Group has fully embedded sustainability into all strategic choices, with the aim to create value for all stakeholders whilst building a fairer and more resilient society.

Stefan Koller has been with Generali since 2007, starting as a trainee, before rising through the ranks to be named as CPO in July 2018.

He leads the efforts of the company's procurement operations, which selects and uses the most reliable suppliers and those that enable it to limit the impact of business activities on the environment along the entire supply chain.

Generali Group aims at working with suppliers and external parties who share Generali values, committed to promoting respect of the global environment, human rights, labour rights, safety, quality and any factors which contribute to the overall welfare of society.

Stefano A.M. Pastori, Head of Procurement Strategy and Transformation at Intesa Sanpaolo

Intesa Sanpaolo is Italy's largest banking group, offering retail, corporate and investment banking services. It plays a crucial role in the Italian economy and also has a strong presence across Europe with diversified financial products.

Based in Milan, Stefano Pastori serves as Head of Procurement Strategy and Transformation at Intesa Sanpaolo. He brings extensive experience from previous positions within Intesa Sanpaolo, as well as roles at i-Faber S.p.A. (part of UniCredit) and Alstom Transport.

Pastori holds a Master of Business Administration from MIP Politecnico di Milano, completed between 2008 and 2010. His professional capabilities span automotive, business strategy, change management, consulting and contract negotiation, amongst other disciplines.

Stefano has helped to form the Intesa Sanpaolo Group mindset when it comes to procurement, the supply and subcontracting system is an area of significant importance.

The Intesa Sanpaolo Group promotes, in line with the corporate strategies and objectives, shared policies and best practices in the field of purchasing for the entire Group to safeguard principles of ethical, social and environmental responsibility common to the companies belonging to the Group.

Building on tradition: Procurement leadership at Poste Italiane

Poste Italiane, established in 1862, has been a cornerstone in Italy's postal and communication services. Headquartered in Rome, the company has evolved into a comprehensive service provider, seamlessly integrating postal services, logistics and financial offerings.

Poste Italiane continues to innovate and adapt to the changing needs of its customers and the market.

The company prides itself on its extensive network, which ensures reliable and efficient delivery of postal services across Italy. Through a strategic blend of traditional and digital solutions, Poste Italiane has expanded its portfolio to include financial services, offering banking, insurance and investment products. This diversification allows the company to cater to a broad spectrum of customer needs, making it a pivotal player in the financial landscape.

In addition to its core services, it has ventured into the telecommunications sector, providing mobile services to its customers. This expansion reflects the company's commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, ensuring that it remains a relevant and trusted brand in Italy. With a robust workforce of 120,000 employees, Poste Italiane is well-positioned to continue its legacy of excellence and service.

Across the company there are a number of procurement leaders, such as Claudio Colella: Head of Procurement - SDA Express Courier S.p.A. Since 2016 he has been the Chief Procurement Officer with bottom line responsibility and budget in excess of €500 million per year, reporting to the CEO. He has full responsibility over process, organisation, contracts, systems and more.