In today’s news section Fiocchi announces the retirement of CEO Anthony Acitelli after a three and a half year stint in the position. This time, Acitelli tells me, his is a “retirement” not a time-out from the industry.

Fiocchi of America has announced the retirement of current CEO Anthony Acitelli. OWDN Photo

Acitelli joined Fiocchi after a stint as Chairman and CEO of Remington Outdoor Company. Prior to that, he was President and CEO of Taurus Holdings. This time, Acitelli told me, he’s not taking time off to rest and recharge, he’s actually ready for “real” retirement.

“I’ve been at this almost 30 years,” he explained, “I have made great friends, and I believe it’s time to hand things off. We have built a great team, and it’s just time.”

That “time” coincides with last year’s acquisition of Fiocchi by CSG, the Czechoslovakian industry group that has added formerly family-owned Fiocchi to their global business.

With that acquisition, CSG gains a significant footprint in Europe and a very significant- and growing- footprint in the United States. It has also brought Acitelli says has been a major contributor to his many industry successes: perfect timing.

“Timing,” he told me, “is everything. Fiocchi is in a great place. There’s a terrific team and there’s a structure in place to help Fiocchi as countries around the world are trying to rebuild ammo supplies that have been depleted by the Ukraine.”

So, I asked: “any last thoughts?”

After a short reflection, Acitelli replied “I think we’ve been successful (Fiocchi USA). We executed our business plan in range and a disciplined manner. I think I’ll be leaving things in good shape….and…. I’ll keep in touch with my friends.”

Sounds like a winner.

Just in case you were wondering, there’s not “an intensive, nationwide search initiated by a top-level executive recruitment firm” underway for Acitelli’s replacement.

Acitelli will be replaced (again) by David Blenker, his successor at Taurus.

As you’ve probably seen in today’s news section, Acitelli’s replacement has already been named: David Blenker.

Again.

Yes, it’s the same David Blenker who succeeded Acitelli at Taurus. The same David Blenker who led Taurus through the successful relocation and expansion of Taurus from its longtime U.S. manufacturing and corporate headquarters in Miami, Florida, to tiny Bainbridge, Georgia in 2019.

In that relocation, Blenker was the key player in a very successful union of a Brazilian company with a sleepy little Georgia town. A that now proudly refers to itself as “the home of Taurus.”

When he retired from Taurus in 2020, Blenker had spent over three decades with the company.

And today, he’s rested, refreshed and ready to come back to the industry he knows, and says he’s missed.

That knowledge is a good thing, because Fiocchi’s new-CEO is on what he calls a “fast dive” back into the industry. “I’m in Ozark next Monday,” he told me last Wednesday evening, “then I’m off for IWA on Tuesday.” From there, he’s meeting with Fiocchi and CSG where he’ll make certain he’s dialed-in to their strategic plans.

“I’m excited,” he readily admitted, “A solid team. Good Values. Quality brand. Those things are really important to me.

Blenker has a full plate of projects as Fiocchi moves toward vertical integration with expansion of facilities that include a major move into primer manufacturing. “The first priority,” he says, “is to get up to speed on the overall strategic plan so I know where we’re headed as a larger entity in the next 4-5 years.”

Sounds like a conversation he and I have had in the past.

Small world? You betcha. And we’re out in that small world, working to keep our promise:

we’ll keep you posted.

— Jim Shepherd