The Searcher

Carlo Salizzoni

Founder & Managing Director. 24+ years building, transforming, and managing businesses across Industrial Automation and Digital sectors.

Professional Profile

Founder & Managing Director

Over the past 24 years, Carlo has cultivated a wealth of diverse, high-stakes experience as an advisor, operator, and executive. His career has been defined by a deep commitment to performance and growth: from turning around loss-making businesses for private equity clients, to founding and scaling an e-commerce startup, to leading multi-year transformation programmes at medium-sized enterprises.

At Apleona Italy and Namirial, Carlo spearheaded comprehensive three-year, multi-million transformation plans, inducing radical change, driving top-line growth of +10% to +50%, and increasing EBITDA by +3 to +6 percentage points, while simultaneously reducing business risk.

As Founder and CEO of GoodBuyAuto.it, Italy's first e-commerce platform for quality used cars, Carlo learned to manage the full complexity of an early-stage, self-funded initiative. He grew the team to 30+ people, raised more than €3M from industry leaders and financial institutions, and earned the European Seal of Excellence Horizon 2020.

In the Coesia Group, a global leader in automated packaging machinery, Carlo led the M&A function: scouting, due-diligencing, and acquiring tens of companies, including R.A. Jones (a $350M competitor in the USA) and a large Swedish automation business. He also implemented lean operational concepts across 50+ global plants.

Carlo is multilingual (Italian, English, German, French, Spanish) and has lived and worked across Italy, Germany, France, the UK, and the USA. He holds an MBA from INSEAD, an Executive Master in Operations and Manufacturing from MIP Politecnico di Milano, and a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Bologna.

"Buying and operating companies is part of my DNA." I always thought that one day I would transition to directly investing in a target and applying what I have already tried before with success. CS Holding is the result of that conviction.

Career

Relevant Career Experience

2023–24

Apleona Italy | Transformation Director & Interim Director ESG

Led the full transformation of Apleona Italy, a major facilities management company. Designed and implemented a multi-year Value Creation Plan across operations, commercial functions, and ESG. Prioritised sustainable practices, governance improvements, and energy-efficient operations.

2019–22

Namirial | Head of M&A and Commercial Transformation

Acquired four SaaS digital businesses in the Digital Business Solution Providers space. Led commercial transformation: CRM implementation, reclassification of 5,000+ SKUs, sales force realignment. Grew international revenues from <10% to >30% of total turnover between 2020 and 2022.

2015–19

GoodBuyAuto.it | Founder & CEO

Founded Italy's first quality used-car e-commerce platform. Built the team to 30+ people. Raised €3M+ from industry leaders and financial institutions. Forged partnerships with Arval, Unipol, and other major industrial players. Awarded European Seal of Excellence. Horizon 2020 (2019).

2010–15

Coesia Group | Head of M&A and Operational Excellence

Acquired two large industrial automation businesses: R.A. Jones Packaging Machineries ($350M) in the USA, and a leading automated machinery company in Sweden. Implemented lean manufacturing concepts across 50+ global plants. Scoped, due-diligenced, and integrated tens of acquisitions in the packaging and automation sector.

2007–10

Alvarez & Marsal / AlixPartners | Senior Advisor

Turned around several unprofitable businesses for private equity clients. Learned and implemented best-in-class professionalization of corporate functions. Specialised in performance improvement in transitional situations across pan-European B2B industrial manufacturing companies.

2002–07

DeutschePost / DHL | Business Development & Integration Manager

Business development and post-acquisition integration management across DHL's European operations. First international role building cross-border operational and commercial capabilities.

Education

Academic Background

MBA

INSEAD

Full-time MBA. Fontainebleau, France. One of the world's leading business schools.

Executive Master

MIP | Politecnico di Milano

Executive Master in Operations and Manufacturing Management. Milan, Italy.

Degree

University of Bologna

Degree in Industrial Engineering (UniBo). Bologna, Italy.

International Studies

FachHochSchule Munich

Merit scholarship. Munich, Germany (1999).

International Studies

University of California

Merit scholarship. Santa Barbara, USA (1997).

Languages

Multilingual

Italian (native) · English (fluent, TOEFL) · German (fluent, D1) · French (working) · Spanish (basic).

Get in Touch

Interested in a confidential conversation?

Whether you are a business owner considering succession or an investor evaluating the opportunity, CS Holding management is available for a direct, private conversation.

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