«A shock, for us he was a father»

PESARO – The world of Pesaro industry mourns the entrepreneur Gianfranco Tonti, historic president of Ifi Spa of Tavullia. He was 78 years old, and was president of Confindustria Pesaro and Urbino from 2013 to 2017. He had been struggling with a bad illness for some time and had recently changed the company’s board of directors with the appointment of his daughter Francesca as president, in the name of family continuity and always including the other children in key management roles. He had already established his succession so as not to leave anything undone. In recent years he had incorporated the role of president and CEO, practically merging with the company.

President and director

«The Ifi was Tonti and Tonti was the Ifi» were keen to point out by its employees who learned the news as a shock. “For us he was a father, we are incredulous and saddened” Francesco Trapanese of the RSU said on behalf of everyone, testifying to the relationship that the entrepreneur was able to establish with the staff. Gianfranco Tonti shaped and grew Ifi until it became a reference brand in furnishings for bars, ice cream parlors, pastry shops and the entire food sector recognized at an international level. The company today has 340 employees across 6 production units, 2 brands, 174 patents and deposits, over 300 distributors and dealers. There are over 200 employees in the Tavullia production hub.

Among the first messages of condolence is that of Confindustria Pesaro Urbino: «The death of Gianfranco Tonti leaves a great void in the Italian and international business world. We remember him not only for his managerial skills and his drive to bring Italian design and manufacturing to the world, but above all because he was a man who was always available and open to discussion with everyone.” It is the memory of Alessandra Baronciani, president of the industrial association. Tonti, in his years as president, supported the project for the aggregation of local authorities, “a clear example for the challenges we face”.

The director of Confindustria Andrea Baroni also remembered him, who also had him as president of the Consorzio Energia Adriatica: «Balanced and constructive, available to listen, always with broad industrial and financial horizons. We are losing a precious reference figure.” Francesco Trapanese, who in addition to RSU Ifi is also a trade unionist for Fillea Cgil, remembers him as “a father for all of us employees”.

What does that leave

«This news has shocked us – Trapanese remarked – we are losing an entrepreneur and a human figure. We knew he wasn’t well, but his disappearance caught us unprepared, we couldn’t believe it. He lived this period with discretion without ever abandoning the company. When he couldn’t be present he still connected remotely. What Ifi represents in the world today is due to him. Tonti was Ifi and Ifi was Tonti, an indissoluble combination.”

Vuelle also expresses its condolences for Tonti’s passing, expressing its deepest condolences to the family. The funeral will be celebrated on Monday at 11am in Cattolica where the entrepreneur lived with his family although always gravitating towards Pesaro and Tavullia.

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