Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Location: Emilia-Romagna, Italy

Industry: Civil Engineering | Water Infrastructure | Public Works

Ownership: Private Equity-Backed

Compensation: Competitive Executive Package Premio Equity Participation The Opportunity

We are partnering with a European private equity investor to appoint a Chief Executive Officer for an established Italian water infrastructure business entering an exciting phase of transformation and growth.

Generating approximately €50 million in annual revenue, the company specialises in water network maintenance, underground infrastructure and public utility projects (SOA OG6). Headquartered in Emilia-Romagna, the business operates nationally, with an established presence across several Italian regions and longstanding relationships with public utilities and infrastructure clients.

Following a majority investment by a private equity sponsor, the business is transitioning from a successful family-owned organisation into a professionally managed, scalable platform.

The incoming CEO will play a central role in this transformation, working closely with the founding shareholders to strengthen the organisation, professionalise operations and position the business for its next phase of growth.

This is a highly entrepreneurial, hands-on leadership opportunity with meaningful equity participation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Business Transformation

- Lead the transition from a founder-led business to a professionally managed organisation, while preserving its entrepreneurial culture and operational strengths.
- Develop and execute a clear business strategy focused on sustainable growth, profitability and operational excellence.
- Establish structured financial planning, controlling, performance reporting and management processes.
- Strengthen organisational capabilities, management structures and accountability across the business.
- Drive change management initiatives while maintaining strong alignment with the founding shareholders.

Commercial Leadership & Stakeholder Management

- Develop and maintain senior relationships with public utilities, contracting authorities and infrastructure clients.




- Gradually assume responsibility for key commercial relationships in close collaboration with the founders.
- Identify opportunities to strengthen the company's market position and expand existing customer relationships.
- Represent the business in discussions with clients, public entities and strategic partners.

Operational Excellence

- Maintain a visible, hands-on presence across operational sites and projects.
- Work closely with operational leadership to ensure successful project execution, quality and profitability.
- Improve project-level visibility, resource allocation, cost control and operational performance.
- Support the development of scalable systems and processes capable of sustaining future growth.

Shareholder & Investor Management

- Work collaboratively with the founding family, who will retain a significant shareholding and remain actively involved in the business.
- Build a strong working relationship with the private equity investor and wider group leadership.
- Align stakeholders around strategic priorities, operational improvements and long-term value creation.
- Support future integration initiatives as the wider infrastructure platform expands.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking an entrepreneurial and commercially minded executive with a proven track record in Italian civil engineering, infrastructure or public works.

Essential Requirements

- Significant senior leadership experience within civil engineering, public works or infrastructure services.
- Strong understanding of the Italian infrastructure market, including public-sector contracting and project delivery.
- Demonstrated ability to manage operationally complex, project-based businesses.
- Proven experience leading organisational change, improving business processes and strengthening operational performance.




- Strong commercial acumen and the ability to develop relationships with public authorities, utilities and institutional clients.
- Hands-on leadership style, with the ability to engage directly with operational teams and project sites.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills, particularly when working with founders, family shareholders and established management teams.
- Willingness to be based in or regularly present in Rimini for at least 3–4 days per week.

Highly Desirable

- Direct experience in water infrastructure, water network maintenance or utility services, particularly SOA OG6 activities.
- Established relationships with Italian water utilities and public-sector infrastructure clients.
- Experience in private equity-backed or investor-owned businesses.
- Previous involvement in professionalising founder-led organisations or supporting buy-and-build strategies.
- Exposure to business integration, operational transformation and scaling mid-market infrastructure companies.

Leadership Characteristics The successful candidate will be:

- Entrepreneurial: Comfortable taking ownership, making decisions and driving change.
- Hands-on: Equally effective in the boardroom, with clients and on operational sites.
- Commercially driven: Able to build trusted relationships and identify opportunities for profitable growth.
- Collaborative: Skilled at working alongside founders who remain shareholders and operationally involved.
- Charismatic and positive: A credible leader who inspires confidence and brings people together.
- Execution-focused: Someone who delivers tangible improvements rather than simply setting strategy.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to become a shareholder and participate directly in the long-term value creation of the business.

Interested?

This is a rare opportunity to lead an established Italian infrastructure business through a significant transformation, combining operational leadership, strategic responsibility and direct equity participation.

For a confidential discussion, please apply directly or get in touch to learn more.

📌 Chief Executive Officer (Emilia-Romagna)
🏢 Privatal
📍 Emilia-Romagna