Francesco Merloni

Francesco Merloni
Minister of Public Works
In office 28 June 1992 – 9 May 1994
Prime Minister	Giuliano Amato Carlo Azeglio Ciampi
Preceded by	Giovanni Prandini
Succeeded by	Roberto Maria Radice
Member of the Senate
In office 25 May 1972 – 4 July 1976
In office 22 April 1992 – 14 April 1994
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 4 July 1976 – 22 April 1992
In office 9 May 1996 – 29 May 2001
Personal details
Born	(1925-09-17)17 September 1925 Fabriano, Italy
Died	1 October 2024(2024-10-01) (aged 99) Fabriano, Italy
Political party	DC (until 1994) PPI (1994–2002)
Spouse	Cecilia Lazzarini
Parent	Aristide Merloni (father)
Alma mater	University of Pisa

Francesco Merloni (17 September 1925 – 1 October 2024) was an Italian industrialist, engineer and politician who was a member of the Christian Democrats. He served as the minister of public works from 1992 to 1994. He chaired Merloni Termosanitari until 2011.

Early life and education

Merloni hailed from a family who founded the Merloni group and created the brand, Ariston, among the others.[1] He was born in Fabriano on 17 September 1925.[2] He held a degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pisa in 1953.[3][4]

Career

After graduation Merloni began his career in the family company, Merloni, in 1954 and worked there until 1972.[4] From 1972 to 1998 he was elected to the Italian senate.[2][4] He was a Christian Democrat senator until 1992.[2] He also served as a member of the Parliament.[1][3] In the elections of 1976, 1979, 1983 and 1987 he was elected deputy with the Christian Democrats.[4]

He was the public works minister in the cabinet led by Prime Minister Giuliano Amato from 28 June 1992 to 27 April 1993.[2][5] He retained his post in the next cabinet led by Prime Minister Carlo Azeglio Ciampi from 28 April 1993 to 9 May 1994.[2] In the general elections in 1996, he was elected to the Parliament with the Olive Tree Alliance.[4]

He led the Ariston Thermo Group until 2011.[1][6] He was the honorary chairman of the group.[3] In addition, he was the president of the Aristide Merloni Foundation, the national president of the UCID (Christian Union of Entrepreneurs and Managers) and vice president of AREL (Research and Legislation Agency).[3]

Personal life and death

Merloni married Cecilia Lazzarini, and they had three children.[4] Merloni's son, Paolo, is also a businessman.[1] He died in Fabriano on 1 October 2024, at the age of 99.[7]

Honours and awards

Merloni was awarded the Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 1994.[8] He was honored by Prix France Italie as best Italian entrepreneur of the year in France in 2003.[4]

References

1. "Energetic People". Itogi (33): 24–27. 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
2. "Francesco Merloni". Italian Senate (in Italian). Retrieved 8 September 2013.
3. "Indesit Co Spa". Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Retrieved 8 September 2013.^[dead link‍]
4. "Merloni Francesco". Who's who in Italy. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
5. John Tagliabue (10 March 1993). "Italian Energy Chief Held in Scandal". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 September 2013.
6. "People Moving".
7. Morto a 99 anni l'imprenditore Francesco Merloni, era presidente onorario di Ariston Group (in Italian)
8. "Dettaglio decorato". Italian Presidency. Retrieved 8 September 2013.

External links

• Media related to Francesco Merloni at Wikimedia Commons