Pininfarina designed the
trophy delivered in Cologne, Germany, this week to the
twenty-eight winners of 2011 Rising Stars, the new
annual award presented by Automotive News Europe
at its congress that honours mid- and upper-level managers who are likely to
become CEOs or executive board members in the future.
"We are pleased to associate Pininfarina with an award
that celebrates the most successful and talented young
people from the industry," said Chairman Paolo
Pininfarina.
"Thinking of the leaders of tomorrow we
started from the concept of Michelangelo's Non finito,
a technique that consists of sculpting some parts of the
figure while leaving other parts rough, thus catching
just a glimpse of the image that the artist is freeing
from material. As it is for the Rising Stars trophy,
which recognises the young managers whose enormous
potential can already be perceived." he added.
The metal trophy (185x40x40mm), manufactured by
Pininfarina in thirty copies, has a rough finishing
throughout the main body. The star on top, obtained by
milling, is the only part with a polished and more
defined finishing.
Dignitaries and
speakers at the Automotive News Europe congress
included Chrysler and Lancia CEO and Fiat/Chrysler
marketing chief Olivier Francois, Toyota Europe head of
purchasing Mark Adams, Ford of Europe CEO Stephen Odell,
PSA Peugeot-Citroën brand chief Jean-Marc Gales, and the
former Fiat, Lancia, Abarth and Alfa Romeo brand CEO
Luca De Meo who is now in charge of all marketing
activities at Volkswagen. The theme of the congress for
this edition was The New Europe: Winning Strategies
for Uncertain Times. The congress explored topics
such as the future of mobility, purchasing strategies in
a reorganised Europe, and opportunities for automakers
and suppliers to cooperate. More than 300 delegates from
over 80 companies based in 25 countries attended.
