In our review of the General Assembly 2026 (check out this link) we introduced our new Board for the period 2026 – 2029.
We asked our 3 Board members to introduce themselves but also understand the focus for their domain.
Below you can find the short interviews we did with Gabriele Ruggieri (Custom Group) in charge of Information Technology (IT); Poltrona Frau’s Marco Gaspari in charge of Terminal and Guido Guidelli Guidi of OCEM Airfield Technology in charge of the Airport Ecosystem .
The New Board of Directors (2026–2029)
The General Assembly elected a new Board of Directors representing the broad expertise of the Italian aviation industry:
Airfield – Carlo Criscuolo, Tecno Engineering 2C
Air Traffic Management – Roberto Weger, SITTI
Construction & Services – Alessia Forte, Forte Secur Group
Engineering & Consulting – Giulio De Carli, One Works
Ground Support Equipment (GSE) – Andrea Cesarini, Aviogei
Information Technology (IT) – Gabriele Ruggeri, Custom
Terminal – Marco Gaspari, Poltrona Frau
Airport Ecosystem – Guido Guidelli Guidi, OCEM Airfield Technology
Looking Ahead
Air Tech Italy’s newest Board Members: Introducing our new representatives for the segments: IT, Terminal and the Airport Ecosystem.
Air Tech Italy selected its Board members for 2026- 2029. We welcomed several new Board members and this was a good reason to introduce them but also understand why they decided to run for Board Member and what we can expect.
Our first new Board member is Marco Gaspari, Head of the Business unit Airports at Poltrona Frau for his bio check out this link.
Marco represents the segment Terminal. Time to better understand his motivation and focus.
Air Tech Italy: Why did you decide to become a Board member? What was your main reason and motivation?
Marco: “I chose to join the Association because I truly believe -deeply -in the values of Air Tech Italy (ATI) and, above all, in the exceptional people who make it what it is. I feel genuinely grateful and honoured for the trust the members have placed in me as new Board member, and I’m fully committed to giving my very best to support the execution of our strategic plan and to turn every initiative into tangible results that will drive ATI forward and strengthen Italian companies in our industry.
We represent a remarkable heritage of more than 500 airport references, and I’m convinced that by working closely together -supporting and challenging each other -we can unlock an even greater potential. Together, we can build a strong, integrated value proposition that spans across the entire sector, creating real momentum and meaningful growth opportunities for all our members.
I strongly believe that in associations like ours, unity is everything – not just in words, but in actions, every single day. That shared commitment is what truly makes the difference. And I will put all my energy, passion, and dedication into strengthening that unity and helping our community thrive.”
Air Tech Italy: You oversee the topic Terminal. How do you want to put this segment in focus in the association? What do you see as a major trend in airport terminals that the association should address?
Marco: “The terminal is one of the most defining areas of an airport, it’s the space that passengers experience most directly, where every element, every service, is immediately visible and tangible. Enhancing these aspects and crafting a truly distinctive customer experience is essential to building a compelling and attractive value proposition for the travellers.
Italy has a unique DNA, creating products that are not only beautiful, but also exceptionally well-designed and highly functional. One of our key missions is to promote this excellence to airport authorities and to the main stakeholders and influencers in the industry, raising the visibility of our members’ solutions and making them a natural, compelling choice.”
Air Tech Italy: Apart from your role on the Board, what do you see as the main challenges for Italian aviation?
Marco: “The Italian aviation sector is made up of companies that represent true excellence on a global scale – often serving as a benchmark even for manufacturers in other countries, including those that are considered more technologically advanced than Italy. The real challenge for Italian producers lies in effectively bringing these outstanding products to market, ensuring that decision-makers recognize their value and are guided toward choosing Italian solutions.
We are fully committed to this challenge: to help our clients understand that tailor-made products – especially those developed in co-design with the customer – can deliver far greater long-term value than standard solutions driven by low-cost, mass-market logics in other geographies.
In this context, the Association plays a crucial role. It is the ideal platform to spread this awareness, foster a shared vision, and build a strong, coordinated network that can actively support the growth and wider recognition of this approach across the industry.”
Our second new Board member is Gabriele Ruggieri, Global Aviation Senior Manager at Custom Group for his bio check out this link.Gabriele represents the IT segment. So why did he become a Board Member and how will he make a difference? Let’s ask Gabriele himself.
1. Why did you decide to become a Board member? Main reason & motivation?
Gabriele: “I decided to become a Board member because I strongly believe that digital technologies are becoming a key enabler of the future of aviation. Throughout my career at Custom Group, I have witnessed how innovation in areas such as digital transformation, cybersecurity, and data-driven operations can significantly improve airport efficiency, resilience, and passenger experience.
Italian companies possess outstanding technological capabilities, yet there is still significant potential to strengthen collaboration across the aviation ecosystem and increase our international visibility. I see Air Tech Italy as an ideal platform to connect expertise, promote innovation, and support the growth of Italian aviation technology worldwide.
My motivation for joining the Board is therefore twofold: to contribute my international experience in airport IT and digital solutions, and to help create an environment where companies can collaborate, share knowledge, and jointly address the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.
Ultimately, this role is also an opportunity to give back to the community and contribute to the long-term growth and competitiveness of Italian aviation.”
2. You are in charge of the topic IT. How do you want to put this segment in focus in the association? What do you see as a major trend in IT in aviation that the association should address?
Gabriele: “The IT segment is becoming the backbone of modern aviation. Airports are evolving into highly connected digital ecosystems where operational efficiency, passenger experience, safety, and sustainability increasingly depend on data and digital platforms.
Within Air Tech Italy, I would like to strengthen collaboration between airports, operators, and technology providers by promoting interoperability, standardization, and knowledge sharing. Italian companies possess world-class expertise, but greater integration and collaboration can help us compete even more effectively in international programs. I also see an opportunity for Air Tech Italy to evolve beyond networking and become an execution-oriented platform. The association can play a valuable role in identifying opportunities early, supporting bid preparation, fostering partnerships between members, and improving visibility on project requirements. In a market where airport programs are becoming increasingly complex, collaboration and execution capabilities are often as important as technology itself.
One of the major trends the association should address is the growing importance of data-driven operations, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. As airports become increasingly digital and interconnected, ensuring resilience and secure data exchange will be critical. At the same time, AI offers significant opportunities to improve airport operations, maintenance, and decision-making.
Air Tech Italy can play an important role by creating forums for exchange, supporting pilot projects, and helping members anticipate future technological developments.”
3. What are for you – apart from the role in the Board you have – the main challenges for (Italian) aviation?
Gabriele: “Italian aviation operates in an increasingly competitive and rapidly changing environment. One of the main challenges is maintaining global competitiveness while continuing to innovate and adapt to new technologies.
Digital transformation, sustainability, cybersecurity, and talent development are all areas that require long-term investment and collaboration across the ecosystem. In particular, attracting and retaining skilled professionals in digital and engineering disciplines will be essential for future growth.
Another important challenge is ensuring that Italian companies, especially SMEs, can access international markets and participate in large-scale airport programs worldwide. Italy has exceptional know-how and innovation capabilities; our challenge is to transform these strengths into global opportunities.
I believe associations such as Air Tech Italy have an important role to play in creating connections, sharing expertise, and enabling companies to grow together in an increasingly international aviation market.”
Our third new Board member is Guido Guidelli Guidi, Head of Sales Italy at OCEM Airfield for his bio check out this link. Guido represents the Airport Ecosystem segment.
So why did he become a Board Member and how will he make a difference? Let’s ask Guido himself.
1. Why did you decide to become a Board member? Main reason & motivation?
Guido: “I decided to become a Board member because I believe Air Tech Italy has the potential to become much more than a networking association. Throughout my career in the airfield sector, working with airport operators, institutions and partners across different countries, I have seen how collaboration and trust are often the key ingredients for successful projects.
I would like to contribute to building an association that creates real business opportunities for its members, strengthens cooperation between companies and promotes the excellence of the Italian airport industry worldwide. My approach is pragmatic: I believe in initiatives that generate concrete value for members, whether through international promotion, stronger industrial partnerships or closer dialogue with airport stakeholders.
Ultimately, I see this role as an opportunity to give back to an industry that has given me so much throughout my career and to help shape the future of the Italian airport ecosystem.“
2. You are in charge of the Airport Ecosystem segment. How do you want to put this segment in focus in the association? What do you see as a major trend that the association should address?
Guido: “When we speak about the airport ecosystem, we should think beyond individual products or technologies. Modern airports increasingly rely on collaboration between infrastructure providers, technology companies, operators and institutions. My ambition is therefore to promote a more integrated vision of the airport, where the different competencies of our members complement one another and create greater value together.
One of my priorities is to strengthen synergies between member companies through initiatives such as company visits, roadshows and knowledge-sharing events, allowing members to better understand each other’s expertise and identify new opportunities for collaboration.
I also believe Air Tech Italy should become even more execution-oriented. Besides promoting our members internationally, the association can facilitate dialogue with airport operators, support early-stage opportunity identification, encourage industrial partnerships and help members better understand future market requirements.
A major trend we cannot ignore is the increasing demand for integrated airport solutions. Customers are no longer looking for individual components, but for complete, secure and interoperable ecosystems. This requires closer collaboration across the entire supply chain. At the same time, European manufacturers must continue to differentiate themselves through quality, cybersecurity, operational reliability and long-term support while safeguarding the strategic know-how of our industry.“
3. What are, apart from the role you have in the Board, the main challenges for (Italian) aviation?
Guido: “One of the biggest challenges is ensuring that the Italian airport industry remains competitive in an increasingly global market. Italian companies possess outstanding expertise and innovation, but they must be supported by a strong industrial ecosystem that enables them to compete internationally while continuing to invest at home.
Maintaining a constructive dialogue with airport operators, ENAC, ENAV, the Italian Air Force and other institutions will be essential to better understand future requirements and create opportunities for Italian suppliers. At the same time, we must ensure that procurement decisions continue to value not only price, but also quality, operational continuity, cybersecurity, local support and long-term reliability.
I also believe Air Tech Italy can play an increasingly important role as a source of market intelligence. By collecting and sharing market data, industry trends and international best practices, the association can provide members with valuable insights that support better strategic decisions and help them identify new growth opportunities.
If we continue to strengthen collaboration, international visibility and knowledge sharing, I am convinced that Italian aviation will remain a benchmark for innovation and excellence.“
Many thanks Marco, Gabriele and Guido! Looking forward hearing and seeing more of you soon!
Interested in becoming a Member and changing the future of aviation with us? Get in touch with us here.