From a press release:


A letter from Carlo Di Biagio, CEO, Ducati Motor Holding

DUCATI APPOINTS NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF U.S. OPERATIONS

I am delighted to announce that we have appointed Joseph Piazza as Chief Executive Officer of Ducati North America. Joseph is 36 years old and will fill the position left vacant by Michael McMahon who left the Company in December 2001. The appointment is effective as from February 4, 2002, and Joseph will report directly to Nicola Greco, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing at Ducati Motor Holding.

Joseph brings to Ducati North America over ten years of experience of the motorcycle industry and is the third generation in his family to be involved in the motorcycle world. He has worked in sales, marketing, product strategy, operations and finance for a number of leading motorcycle-related companies in the US. During his career, he has been General Manager of Tucker Rocky and Helmet House Inc., the largest motorcycle helmet, leather apparel and accessories distributor in the US. Most recently, and for the last four years, Joseph held the position of Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Global Motorsport Group/Custom Chrome, the largest independent manufacturer and distributor of after-market parts and accessories for Harley Davidson and Japanese motorcycles.

After completing a masters degree in Business Administration at Pepperdine University, California, Joseph began his working career as an accountant at Ernst and Young.

“I have been a passionate motorcyclist all my life and cannot wait to take on this role for one of the world’s most exciting motorcycle companies,” he told me. “There are huge opportunities for Ducati in the US, and I look forward to exploiting them with my lifetime of experience of the motorcycle industry and understanding of the US market.”

Joseph is exactly what we need to build Ducati into the leading performance motorcycle brand in the US. I am confident that his broad experience and enthusiasm for motorcycles are a perfect combination to build up this hugely important market for Ducati. I trust you will all join me in welcoming him to Ducati and will give him the support and friendship he needs to achieve our ambitious goals for the future.

Best wishes,

Carlo Di Biagio