Death of Mapei President Giorgio Squinzi

Australasian Leisure Management has learnt of the death of Giorgio Squinzi, President of Italian-based chemicals and sports flooring products/systems manufacturer Mapei.

According to reports in the Italian media, Dr Squinzi died at the age of 76 years on 2nd October following a "long illness".

Born in 1943 in Cisano Bergamasco in northern Italy, he later graduated in industrial chemistry from the University of Milan before joining Mapei, the company founded by his father Rodolfo Squinzi in 1937.

According to Donato Grosser, a long-time friend and associate, “Dr. Squinzi was responsible for scaling up the company that his father started and sucessfully building the firm into a global leader in the adhesives business.

"He was very loyal to his father and was passionate about expanding what his father had started."

The company began as a paint supplier but, under Dr Squinzi’s leadership, expanded into adhesives, thinsets and grouts for the flooring industry as well as products for the larger building industry.

It is also a world leader in the development, manufacture and supply of a range of sports flooring' products/systems, manufacturing over 1,500 products worldwide including adhesives, grouts, waterproofing, paints and finishes for the installation of wall and floor coverings and the repair of concrete structures.

Today, Mapei operates 83 factories in 36 countries, employs over 10,000 people, with annual sales of over US$2.75 billion.

Mapei was established in Australia in 1993 and has supplied product to many prestigious projects such as the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Brisbane International Airport and the Palazzo Versace Hotel on the Gold Coast and with the long history of Mapei subsidiaries supplying adhesives and related products to the Commonwealth and Olympic Games venues, Mapei were commissioned to supply primers, levelling compounds, adhesives, grouts and silicone sealants for the upcoming 2000 Sydney Olympic Games venues.

Recently completed projects include Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore and Hayman Island Resort in the Whitsundays.

In addition to his role at Mapei, Dr Squinzi was known for his sponsorship of the Italian bicycling team that bears the Mapei name. He was also the main sponsor and owner of the Sassuolo football team that plays in Italy's Serie A.

Click here to contact Mapei via their listing in the Australasian Leisure Management Supplier Directory.

Image courtesy of Mapei UK.