Angelo Geninazzi will be the new director of AITI starting in 2027.

A well-planned handover will mark a change at the top of the Ticino Industries Association in spring 2027. After nearly eighteen years at the helm, Stefano Modenini will step down and be replaced by Angelo Geninazzi, an economist, partner at furrerhugi and head of its Italian-speaking Switzerland office.

Geninazzi's appointment was approved by the AITI Committee on August 27. The new director will formally take office on May 1, 2027, while the handover will be presented on April 27 during the Association's Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled to take place at the Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano.

Modenini, however, will not be leaving the organization immediately. After the change in management, he will continue to handle specific matters until his retirement, scheduled for March 1, 2028.

A succession prepared over time

The selection of Stefano Modenini's successor follows a process initiated early and developed in consultation with the current director. This transition aims to ensure continuity within one of the Canton's leading economic associations.

Modenini took office on April 1, 2009, and during his long tenure as head of the Ticino Industries Association, he guided AITI through a period of profound transformation. The canton's economic fabric faced structural changes, new international dynamics, and particularly challenging times, with consequences that affected not only the manufacturing sector but society as a whole.

Over the years, the Association has progressively strengthened its role in Ticino's economic and institutional debate, consolidating its presence in political and public opinion discussions.

"The economy is a fundamental player in society, and I am convinced that today, more than ever, the business community is called upon to contribute to the political and public debate in the Canton of Ticino," said Stefano Modenini, commenting on the succession. "I am therefore particularly pleased that Angelo Geninazzi is taking up the baton, opening an important new chapter for AITI."

The Association expressed its gratitude to the outgoing director for his work over nearly two decades, emphasizing his contribution to the organization's growth and its consolidation as a voice for Ticino's industrial sector.

Who is Angelo Geninazzi?

The future director of AITI comes to the position with a professional background spanning economics, institutional relations, communications, and local political activity.

Angelo Geninazzi holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Fribourg. Before entering the consulting sector, he headed the economiesuisse office for Italian-speaking Switzerland, gaining experience in relations between businesses, business associations, and institutions.

Since 2016, she has worked for furrerhugi, an agency specializing in public affairs and corporate communications. Over the past few years, she has contributed to the establishment and development of the Italian-speaking Switzerland office, where she is now both manager and partner.

Its path has also intertwined with that of various entrepreneurial entities and economic associations, both cantonal and national. Among these is AITI itself, a factor that should facilitate continuity in the dialogue with the Ticino industrial world.

Twenty years of experience in local institutions

In addition to his professional career, Geninazzi has gained extensive experience in municipal institutions. He was active in Melide's politics for twenty years, first as a municipal councilor and later as mayor.

He held the office of mayor from 2012 to 2024, an experience that allowed him to gain first-hand knowledge of the functioning of public administrations and the mechanisms of political and institutional debate.

This path, according to the AITI Committee, complements the new director-designate's economic and professional expertise. The ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders and knowledge of the local area are key aspects for an association called upon to engage daily with businesses, cantonal and federal authorities, and economic organizations.

Ticino industry faces new transformations

The change in management comes at a particularly challenging time for the cantonal economy. Ticino companies are simultaneously facing several transformation processes, destined to impact work organization, competitiveness, and industrial strategies.

The topics highlighted include the acceleration of the digital and technological transition, the evolution of international markets, and the consequences of a more volatile geopolitical environment. Added to these are issues related to the energy transition, which require investment and the ability to adapt on the part of the production system.

These challenges aren't limited to large companies. Ticino's economic structure is characterized by diverse entities in terms of size and business sectors, all of which must find solutions in a context where the rapid pace of change makes medium- and long-term planning more complex.

"The challenges facing Ticino businesses require responses at all levels, and the strategy developed by the AITI Committee is compelling," stated Angelo Geninazzi. "I'm delighted to be able to put my experience and energy to work for those who create wealth in our Canton every day."

A strategy aimed at proximity to businesses

The new Management will be responsible for continuing the Association's efforts to adapt to a rapidly changing economic landscape. The stated goal is to maintain a lean organization capable of effectively addressing issues affecting businesses.

AITI intends to further strengthen its listening capacity, transforming the needs expressed by companies into concrete proposals and actions. At the same time, the Association aims to strengthen its dialogue with cantonal and federal institutions, at a time when many decisions impacting the economy are being made at multiple levels.

AITI President Nicoletta Casanova, who has been in office for a year, highlighted the connection between the choice of the new director and the strategy outlined by the Committee.

"AITI aims to be even closer to businesses, listening to their needs and transforming them into action, while also strengthening its ability to communicate with cantonal and federal institutions," he stated. "We look to the future with confidence in Angelo Geninazzi: his profile perfectly matches this objective, and we are confident he will be able to implement the strategy we have defined and guide AITI into a new phase."

The passing of the baton in 2027

The succession schedule has already been finalized. The formal handover will take place on April 27, 2027, during AITI's Ordinary General Assembly in Lugano. A few days later, on May 1, Angelo Geninazzi will officially assume the leadership.

Stefano Modenini will enter the final phase of his professional career within the Association, dedicated to managing specific dossiers until his retirement in March 2028.

The change in leadership of the organization thus represents one of the most significant transitions in AITI's recent history. After nearly two decades under Modenini's leadership, the Association is preparing for a new phase, entrusting Angelo Geninazzi with the task of representing and supporting Ticino's industry in a period marked by increasingly rapid technological, economic, and geopolitical changes.

Continuity with the work accomplished in recent years and the need to identify new solutions to business needs will be two of the central elements of the mandate, which will begin in spring 2027. For AITI, the passing of the baton not only coincides with a change in leadership, but also with the beginning of a phase in which the ability to interpret the transformations of the Ticino economy will be crucial to the Association's future role.