by Velia Iacovino

At its eighth edition, the Best Managed Companies Award by Deloitte Private honors 72 Italian firms excelling in management, innovation, and resilience. This year’s spotlight: cybersecurity as a strategic priority

In an era where global markets demand agility and resilience, 72 Italian companies have been named Deloitte’s Best Managed Companies for 2025, confirming their status as leaders of innovation and sustainable growth. The award ceremony took place at Palazzo Mezzanotte, home of Borsa Italiana, and marked the eighth edition of the initiative developed by Deloitte Private, in partnership with ELITE-Euronext Group, Piccola Industria Confindustria, and ALTIS Graduate School of Sustainable Management at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore.

The 2025 Winning Profile

This year’s awardees span the entire country but are predominantly located in northern Italy. Lombardy emerges as the region with the highest concentration of winners, accounting for a quarter of all honorees. Emilia-Romagna follows closely with 22%, and Veneto contributes another 10%, underscoring the industrial weight of these territories. Once again, the manufacturing sector proves to be the heart of Italy’s business excellence, with more than half of the awarded companies operating in this field.

Among the winners, nearly 60% are family-owned, a hallmark of Italy’s entrepreneurial fabric. Despite their roots in tradition, these companies are anything but static. A remarkable 90% foresee revenue growth in the next 12 months, and 60% report strong confidence in their business outlook for the next two years. Many have also shown a commitment to structured development, as evidenced by the 44% who have taken part in the ELITE growth program. A minority—yet significant—portion of the panel is either publicly listed or backed by private equity funds, indicating increasing financial sophistication.

 

Cybersecurity Becomes a Business Imperative

Ernesto Lanzillo, Deloitte Partner and Leader of Deloitte Private in the Central Mediterranean area (Italy, Greece, and Malta), emphasized the uniqueness of these companies’ management capabilities, especially in today’s competitive landscape. “This year we also introduced cybersecurity as a key evaluation metric, recognizing its growing importance for business continuity and digital transformation,” he noted.

Indeed, cybersecurity emerged as a defining theme of the 2025 edition. Nearly all the awarded firms—98%—now consider it a strategic priority. Although only 32% experienced a cyberattack in the past year, three-quarters of these incidents resulted in no significant damage, highlighting a high level of preparedness. About 18% of the companies feel highly equipped to handle such threats, while 74% consider themselves reasonably prepared. Investment is following this awareness: 57% of the companies plan to increase cybersecurity spending moderately in the next year, and another 30% are preparing for significant investments

Artificial intelligence is also gaining ground in cybersecurity strategies. A fifth of the awarded companies already use AI solutions extensively, while nearly 40% have begun adopting them in more limited ways. Another third are preparing to introduce AI in the next 12 months. Only a small portion, about 11%, do not foresee adopting such technologies in the near future.

Andrea Restelli, Partner at Deloitte and Head of the Best Managed Companies program in Italy, highlighted the continuity of excellence: over 80% of this year’s honorees had already been recognized in previous editions. Nine companies were awarded for the seventh consecutive year and entered the “New Platinum” category. Five others, honored since the program’s launch in 2018, were elevated to “Platinum” status. Alongside them, 12 new entries showcase the dynamism of Italy’s entrepreneurial scene.

 

From Family Roots to Global Reach

Beyond cybersecurity and business performance, sustainability and governance were central evaluation criteria. Roughly two-thirds of the companies already publish sustainability reports, and over 60% have established formal ESG governance structures. The importance of environmental and social impact is reflected not only in reporting but also in long-term strategic planning. When asked about the next five years, three out of four companies said they plan to improve ESG performance, with others aiming for organic growth and international expansion.

The companies’ internal organization also reflects a commitment to solid governance. Over half include independent members on their boards, and the majority conduct formal board meetings on a regular basis. Most maintain robust internal financial reporting systems, which they assess as highly reliable.

In interviews conducted by Deloitte in mid-2025, 93% of the winners expressed confidence in their business trajectory despite 67% anticipating operational uncertainty in the short term. More than 70% expect growth in their respective industries, citing talent acquisition and technological innovation—particularly artificial intelligence—as key enablers.

The 2025 Best Managed Companies Award is more than a ranking. It is a reflection of how Italian enterprises, often family-run and deeply rooted in regional identity, are transforming themselves into international leaders by combining tradition with forward-looking strategies. In a world increasingly shaped by digital risk and global uncertainty, these companies stand out for their resilience, foresight, and commitment to excellence.

They are:

A.L.A., Alfa Parf Group, Alma Petroli, Alpac, Beta 80, Casillo, Cmo Group, Comes, Ct Pack, Dexelance, Diesse Diagnostica Senese, Ecopack, Edil San Felice, ELT Group, Elica, Elmec Informatica, Enegan, Epta, Eternoo, Eurofork, Fantini Group Vini, Farmol, Feralpi Siderurgica, Ferrari F.lli Lunelli, Fervo, Fidia Farmaceutici, Florim, Fratelli Ibba, Friul Intagli Industries, Gessi, Gibus, Graded, Gruppo Borghi, Gruppo Dolomiti Energia, Gruppo Società Gas Rimini, Illumia, Impresa di costruzioni Albini e Castelli, Irritec, Istituto Ganassini di Ricerche Biochimiche, L.M.A., Landoll, Lincotek Group, Logistica Mediterranea, Lucart, Maiora, Manini Prefabbricati, Manuli Ryco, Marazzato Soluzioni Ambientali, Minerali Industriali, Movi, Mutti, Nau, Neodecortech, NWG Energia, Opocrin, Oropan, Overmach Holding & C., Pettenon Cosmetics, Pharma Quality Europe, Pietro Fiorentini, Porto Intermodale Ravenna, Powersoft, RDR, Sabaf, San Marco Group, Scm Group, Susa, Teddy, UmbraGroup, Unox, Vici & C. e Webranking.

 

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