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Meet today… Enrico Mangiagalli: Seeing the big picture is where transformation starts

Before joining Xella as CTO South-West Europe, he managed industrial operations across three continents, played the blues and became a sommelier.

30 July, 2025

Why did you decide to join Xella?

I’ve worked in various manufacturing sectors - from fast-moving products to heavy industrial machinery. But I was looking for something truly different, both in terms of industry and challenge. Xella’s continuous production and international setup immediately fascinated me - especially since I had never worked in building materials or in a company that combines products with such a broad range of services.

As CTO South-West Europe at Xella, you are responsible for the plants and the employees working there. What do you like about your new role?

Operations work is never boring: unexpected events and unplanned things are always around the corner. Stretching my brain and trying to go beyond my limits is scary, but it also adds some spice to my professional life. 

What are your goals at Xella for the next years?

Since joining the company in March 2025, I’ve still been in what I’d call a warm-up phase. One of my core strengths is the ability to see complex situations in a structured way - something I aim to use to streamline processes, clarify roles, and sharpen responsibilities.
My background across different sectors brings a range of perspectives, from process optimization to technology integration. This diversity can help position Xella more effectively for upcoming market shifts and operational demands. With a shared vision and a clear roadmap, we can actively shape the company’s transformation. Or: seeing the big picture is where transformation starts. There’s strong potential for progress, especially in our region, where we’re well-positioned to modernize operations and strengthen our market presence.

What role does sustainability play in meeting the needs of the customers in Italy and in your vision for Xella?

Today, customers often expect sustainability as a standard feature. Customers are generally more sensitive to sustainability, and even end users are increasingly interested in how sustainable their homes and investments are. It's a market condition, but also a business philosophy. Sustainability means preserving something for the long term - for our planet and for our children.

How did it come that you had such an international career?

An international environment has always appealed to me. After my engineering studies in Canada, I joined a young talent program that gave me the opportunity to work in three different countries, sectors, and departments. That experience truly opened the door to my future career - life sometimes takes unexpected turns.
Interestingly, my job interview at Xella brought back memories of that time. Years ago, I lived in Oberhausen, Germany, while working on an international project, and Oberhausen is just around the corner from our headquarters in Duisburg. Traveling there felt like stepping back in time - I even took the same flight I used to take 20 years ago to return to Milan.
You spent nearly ten years working in other industries in China. How did that happen?
I used to work for a large multinational company. One day, my boss asked me to succeed a plant manager in China. Although the Eastern world was never where I saw myself, I stayed for almost ten years, working for two different companies. The amount of time I spent there speaks to how much I enjoyed my time there.

What did you like about China?

At first, being 10,000 km away from my colleagues and having a seven-hour time difference was challenging. But I started to enjoy this dynamic world that always uses top technologies. Six or seven years ago, I started leaving my wallet at home because payments were already digital. Society there seems very fast-paced and eager to advance. Working in that environment taught me to be faster in decision-making and to embrace experimentation.
I also experienced some personal growth - my time abroad in China gave me the opportunity to extensively travel the southeastern region. Last but not least, I met my partner there, even though she is Italian like me. After ten years abroad, we decided that we don't see ourselves as expats forever, so we returned to Europe.

What do you do when you're not working?

Three things have always helped me balance my personal, social, and professional life - besides my family, of course: these are traveling, music, and sports. I love all racket sports and skiing in the winter. I have played the piano for many years, as well as different types of keyboards. When I was young, I played in a blues band and was also an organist.
I'm also a sommelier, and I enjoy combining that hobby with traveling with my partner. For example, we toured some mezcal factories in Mexico this year.

I also really enjoy visiting our plants. Discovering that we operate 50 plants in one region opened my eyes to the scale of our operations and to the many ways we can strengthen international collaboration within the Group. 

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