Farewell to Roberto Pellegrini, the chairman who brought the world to Expo Riva Schuh and Gardabags

From every trip he returned with a small globe. Not a souvenir: a reminder. Because for Roberto Pellegrini, broadening one’s horizons was not just a figure of speech, but a way of working.

President of Riva del Garda Fierecongressi since 2007, he transformed a territorial trade fair into a crossroads of markets and cultures. It was his intuition to take Expo Riva Schuh beyond national borders: the Middle East (2008–2009), India (2011–2013), and the consolidation of ties with China. The international footwear industry owes part of its global reach to him.

He used to repeat two phrases. “When I look back, I see the future.” And “You recognise thoroughbreds on the uphill stretch.” The first encapsulates his vision of growth: memory as a laboratory, not a museum. The second says it all about him. Those who worked with him remember the man behind the role: the informal “you” he insisted on with everyone, colleagues addressed by name, no air of superiority.

He passed away on 8 August 2026, aged 76, following a serious illness. He leaves behind a more international trade fair and his globes, which still point the way forward.

We extend our thanks to him for the many years we worked together – intense, full of energy, and always punctuated with a bit of laughter.