1

ANTONIO FRANCO Date of birth: 07/01/1956

24121 Bergamo - Italy -, Via Martiri di Cefalonia, 3 Mobile: + 39 335 6989131

e-mail address: antoniofranco.1956@gmail.com LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/francoantonio

Visionary senior executive with a history of success in Animal Health and Agrochemical industry, who undertakes complex assignments, meets deadline and delivers superior performance. Strategic planner with business acumen able to transform the market needs into business opportunities. Vast experience in setting the most efficient organization to achieve the sales target and the shareholders requirements. Extensive industry network in Italy, Eastern Europe and MEA. Core competencies:

- management experience with P&L exposure and accountabilities, - strategic planning, forecasting and monitor sales, margin and revenue

using standard financial schedules, - leads and motivates others through involvement and open

communication, - capable of monitoring and taking action on sales force effectiveness, - excellent communication, influencing and teaming skills.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE June 2013 - Present Business Consultant Supporting the management in identifying the success factors of strategic decisions for the future company development. Project: for an Italian Pharma company

- analysis and opportunities for an horizontal expansion in pet market, - identify the potential synergies within the company organization network.

Project: for an Italian company of innovative software house: - define and develop the international marketing plan, - identify the most important and attractive sales areas and implement

appropriate development plans.

November 2006 - May 2013 Industria Italiana Integratori TREI S.p.A TRE I is a leading player in the animal health industry in Italy with a strong organization network in Eastern Europe and MEA. Head office: Rio Saliceto (Reggio Emila- Italy). Sales: 25 Mio €. Employees: 48 President and General Manager, reporting to management board. Drive and coordinate all company functions/department (commercial, controlling, H.R., purchasing, production, product development and registration). Management of the P&L, margins, financial and commercial targets and company objectives. Definition and responsibilities on the annual business and investment plan. Sales responsibilities on KA. Define and share with the board the annual strategic plan. Achievements

- Generate approximately € 500.000 in annual saving by defining a new purchasing procedure (constant research of new potential suppliers)

- Annual cost saving of approx. € 200.000 by investment in production plan and streamlined the sales organization

- Increase sales from 0.7 to 3 M€, in three years, by expand the sales organization outside Italy

2

- Business monitoring by applying a monthly report, KPI (return on sales: EBIT/Net Sales>3, Fixed manufacturing cost per kg vs. standard cost/kg).

- Introduction of variable salary by applying a qualitative and quantitative management performance system.

November 2005 - October 2006 Business Consultant I have been working for companies acting in the field of polyurethane and chemicals for laboratory analysis. Main projects:

- New strategic approach of the PU for a worldwide footwear business (Dow Chemical S.p.A).

- Analysis of the laboratory reagents market and evaluation for potential acquisition in Italy (Panreac)

November 1998 - October 2005 BASF GROUP September 2002 - October 2005 - BASF Poliuretani Italia S.p.A (former Elastogran Italia Spa) BASF Polyurethanes Italy is a historically established company in the country, dedicated to the production of polyurethane systems. Head Office: Villanova d’Asti (Asti- Italy). 2004 sales: 230 Mio €. 2004 Employees: 150 General Manager /Managing Director Elastogran Italia Spa reporting to Group Vice President. Drive and coordination of commercial, finance and controlling, H.R., purchasing, productions (production sites: Villonova d’Asti and Zingonia di Verdellino ). P&L responsibility. Define annual business plan. European Business Manager Footwear EMEA Senior Vice President, (in addition to the role of GM) reporting to Group Vice President March 2003 - October 2005 As European Business Manager I was, also, responsible for commercial, marketing and development activities needed to penetrate the footwear market in Europe, Middle East and Africa (turnover 2004: 125 mio €, 50 people) Leading the European management team of footwear BU. Define the more appropriate commercial strategy to ensure future growth. Keep high motivation on the multinational/multicultural team. Drive the research and development team. Delivery to the board the commercial and financial targets. Achievements

- Strategic plan with a new business model to reorganize the European footwear business.

- Incremental sales of 10 M€ by the acquisition of the Crompton footwear division to strength the BASF position on safety footwear industry.

- Cost saving of approx. 2 M € due to the synergies with the acquisition

November 1998 - August 2002 BASF Italia S.p.A Leading, innovative supplier of feed additives for livestock and pet nutrition. The BASF products help farmers to raise vital animals, to utilize feeds more efficiently and to achieve top performance. Production: Comun Nuovo (Bergamo - Italy). Sales: 31 Mio €. Employees: 38 Director of the Animal Health Nutrition Division reporting to V.P. Vitamins Lead and management of the sales and production organization. Evaluation and the development of the most adequate commercial and marketing strategies to penetrate the Italian feed industry market. Responsibility of the division profit plan. Responsible for the investment plan aimed to increase production output and reduction of bottleneck to increase productivity. Achievements

- Increase of premix sales volume up to 24.000 T/year

3

- New sales organization with an annual cost saving of € 100.000 - Acquisition of an Italian company acting on feed nutrition for dairy caws.

Sept. 1995 – Oct. 1998. Istituto delle Vitamine S.p.A (former ROCHE) World’s leading suppliers of vitamins, carotenoids, and feed enzymes to the global feed industry. Head Office: Segrate (Milano-Italy). 1998 sales: 60 Mio€. Employees: 120 Animal Health Manager, reporting to General Manager Sales responsible of feed additives on southern east region (Italy, Turkey, Greece). Preparation and implementation of a annual strategic plan, including prices, in line with global strategies. Responsibility of the southern east commercial network. Achievements

- redesigned the sales structure enhancing synergies between the Cyanamid and Roche sales force.

October 1990 - September 1995. CYANAMID ITALIA S.p.A Multinational innovative supplier of feed additives and growth promoter for livestock. Head office: Rome. Sales: 15 Mio € . Division employees: 12 Country Manager B.U. Animal Health. Reporting to Vice President Europe. Dec.1994 - Sept ‘95 Business management. Optimization of the national distribution network. Price positioning and responsibility for P&L. Sales and marketing Manager “Animal Health “,reporting to Country Manager Oct.90 – Dec. 94 Formulation of the national strategy in order to improve the sales in the Animal health matket. Coordinate all marketing activities and commercial resources. Achievements

- Annual cost saving of approx. € 150.000 by streamlined the sales organization

- Increase sales (0.3 M€) by co-distribution. April 1989 - Sett.1990 RHONE POLENC AGRO S.p.A A world-leading agri-business committed to sustainable agriculture through innovative research and technology. Headquarters: Rome. Turnover of € 80 million. 140 employees Product Manager Insecticides reporting to Marketing Manager Market and competitors analysis. Mktg and advertising plan. Budget preparation and presentation to the annul meeting sales force. New products lunch and repositioning strategy for the existing products. Portfolio managed about 25 Mio € From June 1987 to March 1989 BIANCHEDI Italian leader distributor of he most important multinational companies (Dow Chemical, Hoechst Roussel , Pennwalt ), in the PCO market. Headquarters: Rome. Turnover: € 3 M €. Employees: 11 Sales & Marketing Manager reporting to the President Management of the sales organization. Costs, prices and margins definition. Support the President in the planning and development activities to elaborate the short, medium and long term business strategies. Achievements

- Starting overseas sales (around € 150,000/year) by applying a dedicate sales structure in Tunisia and Morocco

May 1987 to Ottobre1981 DOW CHEMICAL ITALY S.p.A

4

Dow AgroSciences is committed to increasing crop productivity through higher yields, better varieties, and more targeted pest management control. During my experience in Dow Chemical I had various positions in different locations Italian and abroad TS&D – Technical services and development. Rome (1981-1984) Product Manager Insecticides for France, Dow Chemical France, Valbonne (1985) Marketing Manager pesticides, Dow Chemical Italy, Milan (1986-1987). Achievements

- Year 1986: extra sales of 350.000€ by identifying the new sales channel of the Italian government aid.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES English, French, advanced level

TECHNICAL SKILLS

Proficient in Microsoft Office suite : Excel, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook EDUCATION

1979 - Bachelor in Agricultural Science. University of Portici (Naples). Final grade 104/110.

1980/81–Master in Agriculture at International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM).

PUBLICATIONS

A.Franco-M.Bergamini, Marketing of Agrochemicals Edagricole, Bologna 1991 (First marketing publication in Italy on Agrochemical products).

A.Franco-F.Zampetti, Starane: New post-emergence herbicide for winter wheat.

Results of two years trials. Phytopathology. Coop.Libraria University Editrice, Bologna, 1984.

Authorisation for the treatment of sensitive personnel data according to DL 196/2003