Assocal to cement its ties with China with new general manager

15/12/2014
Italian footwear manufacturers’ association Assocalzaturifici (Assocal) has appointed a China-based executive as its new general manager.

Tommaso Cancellara, originally from Italy, has been based in Shanghai for the last three years, working as marketing director for Asia Pacific for Cesena-based gym machinery manufacturer Technogym.

He will return to Italy in January to take up his new position.

Assocal has placed increasing emphasis on its ties with China, launching the Micam Shanghai exhibition in April 2013. Exports to China of high-end shoes made in Italy have been registering double-digit increases at a time when sales in the domestic market and in other important overseas markets, such as Russia, have been stalling.