Francesco Merloni: The Man Behind Indesit Company

Early Life and Career

Born in Fabriano, Italy, in 1925, Francesco Merloni was the son of a small-scale electrical appliance manufacturer. After graduating from the University of Bologna with a degree in economics, Merloni joined his father's company, Industrie Merloni, in 1953.

Indesit Company

In 1975, Merloni founded Indesit Company, a merger of Industrie Merloni with another Italian appliance manufacturer. Under Merloni's leadership, Indesit quickly became one of the leading home appliance manufacturers in Europe.

Acquisitions and Growth

Merloni led Indesit through a series of acquisitions, including the purchase of Italian appliance maker Ariston in 2005 and the acquisition of British appliance manufacturer Hotpoint in 2007. These acquisitions helped Indesit expand its product line and global reach.

By the time Merloni retired from Indesit in 2011, the company had become one of the largest appliance manufacturers in the world, with operations in over 100 countries.

Awards and Recognition

Merloni received numerous awards and recognitions for his contributions to the appliance industry. He was named Cavaliere del Lavoro (Knight of Labour) by the Italian President in 1991 and was awarded the Order of Merit for Labour in 2001.

Legacy

Francesco Merloni is remembered as a visionary leader who transformed the appliance industry. His legacy lives on through Indesit Company, which continues to be one of the world's leading appliance manufacturers.