Nerio Alessandri

Cavaliere del Lavoro – (Knight of Industry).

In February 2009 he was nominated Vice President of the Leonardo Committee, an association that promotes Italian quality and the image of Italy throughout the world.

In 2006 he purchased a 4% stake in Starpool, a company based in Trentino specialised in the design and construction of health spas.

In March 2004 he was elected to the Association of Italian Industrialists (Confindustria) Board of Directors and this mandate was renewed in 2008 for the next four years.

In April 2004 he received an honorary degree (Laurea Honoris Causa) from the Faculty of Motor Sciences at the University of Urbino.

In November 2004 he was presented the Leonardo Award for Italian Quality by the President of the Italian Republic.

In November 2003 he was named Italian “Entrepreneur of the Year 2003” and then represented Italy at the “World Entrepreneur of the Year”.

In 2003 the Wellness Foundation was established. This no profit association supports scientific research, health education and the promotion of a Wellness lifestyle. The Foundation operates with specific projects in the sphere of health, instruction, research, art and culture.

At the beginning of 2003 Alessandri became a shareholder in Enervit, a company in the sports nutrition sector.

In 2001 Alessandri was nominated “Cavaliere del Lavoro” (Knight of Industry) by the President of the Italian Republic Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, which made him the youngest-ever holder of this title in Italian history.

In 2001 Alessandri published the book “Wellness. Scegli di vivere bene” (Wellness. Welcome to a better life) the manual-manifesto of the Wellness philosophy. In 2005 Technogym and Nerio Alessandri featured in the Italian edition of Blue Ocean Strategy< (ISBN 978-1591396192), the Chan Kim – Mauborgne best seller. Featured in the 2007 publication Soft Economy (ISBN 978-8817008372), Technogym was a case study in sound and flexible Italian enterprise that represents the best of Made in Italy. In the same year he edited the publication “Wellness-Storia e Cultura del vivere bene” (Wellness-The History and Culture of Healthy Living) (Sperling & Kupfer), a volume that defines the historical and conceptual path of "wellness" through twelve essays written by Italian and international academics. In 2008, the book “A Successful Life Begins with Wellness” was published in China.

Nerio Alessandri is the Technogym President and CEO. Today, Technogym is in the Fitness and Wellness sector and claims approximately 55,000 installations worldwide in 35,000 wellness centres and 20,000 private homes. Technogym estimates that approximately 40 million people use its products every day. The company has 2000 employees in 13 branches in Europe, the United States, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South America and 90% of its turnover is made up of exports sent to over 100 different countries. Its revenues are 350M in 2010. This company was the exclusive and official supplier for the athletes training centers at the last 4 editions of the Olympic Games since Sydney 2000 to Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and will be the same for London 2012 Olympics.

In 1993 at the 1st California Tradefair International Conference in Rimini, Alessandri defined his Wellness concept: a lifestyle based on regular physical activity, balanced diet and a positive outlook. From this moment on Wellness became the foundation of the Technogym philosophy and the tagline “The Wellness Company” was added to the corporate logo.

In 1988 he patented the CPR system, a scientific algorithm for constant pulse/heart rate training that became the hallmark of Technogym products.

In 1984 he designed the Isotonic Line, the very first Technogym training line for gyms and then in 1986 came Unica, the first, hi-tech design, home trainer.

In 1983 Nerio Alessandri founded Technogym, and began building exercise equipment in the garage of his home.

Nerio Alessandri (Gatteo, Province of Forlì-Cesena, 8 April 1961) is an Italian entrepreneur and President and founder of Technogym (since 1983).