To really understand how a bank works, you have to work your way up from rank, from branch, even if your last name is Sella. And Maurizio Sella (pictured), who died on the night between Saturday and Sunday, knew this well. The banker, in 1966, immediately after graduating in economics, began working at the family bank, founded in 1886 by Gaudenzio Sella, headed at that time by his uncle Giorgio and his father Ernesto.
However, his apprenticeship was short and in 1974 he assumed the role of managing director and general manager of the bank (which closed the first nine months of the year with a net profit of 119.4 million euros). The role he held until 2002, guided its growth throughout the national territory. From 2000 until May of this year, Maurizio also served as president of Banca Sella Holding, transforming a provincial bank into one of the most high-tech operators in Italy, vigorously maintaining its independence in a market where mergers and aggregations in recent years have given rise to large groups.
In 60 years, Maurizio Sella “has guided Banca Sella in solid and lasting growth and has been committed to serving institutions and organizations representing the banking sector and the business world, in Italy and Europe”, as the bank explained in a note. And, thanks to his entrepreneurial commitment to the sector, in 1991, at the age of 49, he was named a Knight of Labor and then in 2018 a Knight of the Grand Cross.
But on Saturday evening, at the age of 83, we were greeted not only by one of the symbols of Banca Sella, but also by the man who was president of the Italian Banking Association (Abi) for four terms, from 1998 to 2006. A period of great transformation, privatization and consolidation of the banking sector in Italy, was also marked by the historic transition of the European Union to the euro.
As suggested by Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti, Italy bids farewell to “bankers from another era” who, as underlined by Paolo Zangrillo, Minister of Public Administration, “for decades led his group with seriousness and foresight, making a great contribution to the economic growth of Piedmont and the entire country”.
Looking at the future of Biella bank, CEO Pietro Sella stated that “in practice Maurizio has been preparing for every aspect of his succession for some time.
But what is most important about him is his extraordinary moral legacy, consisting of unshakable teachings and beliefs, determination and hard work for the future. His strength, example, integrity and confidence in the future are and will always be our signature elements.”
