Gian Paolo Galloni
Management and R&D Consultancy, High-End Cycling Industry · Freelance
Westlake Village, CA
In My Own Words
Open to consider following positions:
General Manager;
Brand Manager;
Sales Manager;
Marketing Manager;
Product Manager;
Area or Country Manager;
Customer Service Manager.
Preferred ENVIRONMENT
High-end and high-quality CYCLING INDUSTRY.
Preferred working LOCATION:
MILAN, TREVISO and near provinces in Italy;
willing to consider a relocation in Europe, USA and Asia.
TRAVELING and temporary stays:
WILLING to travel up to 60% of working time and up to two months temporary stays.
CURRENT position
Management and R&D CONSULTANT in the high-end Cycling Industry;
I’m not considering instead a career as a novelist, even if I published a thriller in Italian language that was translated in English and is available at Amazon with the titles of “Quattro passi sotto la pioggia” and “Even the Sky’s crying!”
MARITAL status
Married since late ‘80 and father since mid ‘90.
EDUCATION
COLLEGE Degree, Mechanical Engineering. Course not completed. I dropped out of “Università degli Studi” in Padua, Italy, in 1988, when already working full-time in an extremely technical environment;
High School Diploma, specialization Mechanics, at ITIS G. Galilei in Milan and E. Fermi in Treviso, Italy. Grade 56/60;
Middle School at E. Colorni in Milan. Italy. Grade “Ottimo” (Excellent), the highest available.
Elementary School in Melbourne, Australia, and Milan, Italy. Grade “Ottimo” (Excellent), the highest available.
LANGUAGES
Italian, mother-tongue of high level;
English, professional level;
German, basic level;
French, Spanish and Russian some comprehension.
MILITARY SERVICE (due by law at the time):
AIR FORCE Pilot in 1983, Top-10. Career interrupted when perfect eyesight was lost;
Mountain Army, Corporal in 1984. I earned a Commendation from its highest ranking commander, General Federici.
IQ
Highest result tested twice by Mercury Urval, a Top Management HR Agency.
ABOUT
currently exploring longer-term prospects;
great candidate when looking for talent and results first;
grown up in a managing role in a Swiss military corporation;
hard worker;
extreme attention to detail;
team player and mentor;
out-of-the-box mindset;
experienced with CNC operations and CAD;
e-commerce pioneer;
start-up expertise;
inventor;
developed sense of public opinion;
problem solving (and prevention);
positive stress management;
trust and confidence inspiring standing;
cultured and charming;
deeply rooted ethics;
quite experienced rider, from DH through road bike encompassing every kind of riding.
HARDWARE and SOFTWARE knowledge:
grown up with Microsoft and Office, needing some days in order to refresh familiarity with Windows;
professional knowledge of Mac OS;
professional knowledge of Adobe CC inDesign, PhotoShop and Acrobat Pro softwares;
professional knowledge of Photography.
HOBBIES:
Traveling, outdoors activities (mostly cycling), cooking & dining, music, reading & writing, movies, friends and pets.
Previous Work EXPERIENCES
Tech Editor at HI-TORQUE Publications Inc. in Valencia CA, USA, with “Mountain Bike Action” magazine, the no. 1 in the World - Since February 2018 through August 2022, while still constantly in contact;
Founder, Publisher and Editor at GPR Publishing S.a.s. in Treviso TV, Italy, publishing “Mountain Bike Action, Italian Edition”, the no. 1 magazine in Italy - Since October 2006 through April 2022. Publishing one only title made it impossible to front the spike in printing costs caused by the war in Ukraine;
Founder of BIKE PLANET S.a.s. in Treviso TV, Italy, a pioneering Mail Order company selling high-end Cycling Components in Italy, offering services still to be matched - Since March 1998 through June 2007. Sold in order to avoid any conflict of interest with my following venture, while also funding its start-up;
CAD Mechanical Engineering on my own in Treviso TV, Italy, working on AutoCad software and on projects of any kind, even on reverse engineering and ISO 9001 Certifications for local main industries - Since February 1997 through February 1998;
Account Manager in Italy at CANNONDALE Inc. in Wilton CT, USA, and with European HQ in The Netherlands, one of the most famous American high-end bicycles brand - Since September 1996 through January 1997. Experience ended when not accepting the unexpected request to move to Oldenzaal NL in a higher position;
Team Founder and Manager at GT Bicycles Inc. in Santa Ana CA, USA, and with European HQ in Belgium, one of the most famous American high-end bicycles brand. The team was also enlisting a World Champion - Since January 1995 through September 1996. Ended when otherwise forced to support a change of main sponsorship in favor of a company having what I thought were low ethics;
Sales Manager in Italy at MAVIC SA in Annecy, France, the most famous high-end bicycles wheels manufacturer - Since March 1992 through December 1994. Ended when the company established a new International partnership;
Vice President of Sales and Project Leader at SAIMP Sistemi S.p.A. in Padua, Italy, and part of Mandelli Group in Piacenza, manufacturing high-precision grinding machines systems (FMS) for the Automotive Industry - Since May 1990 through January 1992. I left when the company, against my suggestions to invest instead on Far-East most emerging car brands (Kia, Hyundai, et cetera), decided to bet on FIAT Group new factory in Termoli CB and failed, even entering receivership and a long crisis;
Area Manager in Italy at OERLIKON Bührle, a Zürich CH military corporation manufacturing anti-aircraft systems and high precision machine tools - Since February 1988 through April 1990. When the company was acquired by the Mandelli Group, I was promoted to the above mentioned position at Saimp Sistemi;
Sales Engineer in Italy at NORTON in Worcester MA, USA. It produced abrasive tools for precision grinding machines - Since September 1987 through January 1988. Maybe the best company I have been working for so far and left with an heavy heart;
Sales Representative Agent in North-Eastern Italy at HURON in Strasbourg, France, high-precision machine tools manufacturer part of FIAT-Comau Group in Turin. Since April 1986 through July 1987. A successful experience in terms of sales, but I left because of financial struggles consequence of very long time deliveries and payments;
Sales Representative Sub-Agent in North-Eastern Italy at CECCONELLO Macchine Utensili in Padua, Italy, representing leading machine tools manufacturers such as Rambaudi, Favretto, Morara, et cetera. - Since January 1985 through March 1986. A great experience;
Other jobs while studying, like waiter, maitre d’, English teacher, et cetera - Since October 1978 through July 1983.
Work Experience
Management and R&D Consultancy, High-End Cycling Industry
Freelance2022 – Present
I support companies asking for general, sales and/or marketing management, and/or product development.
Tech Editor
Hi-Torque Publishing Inc.2018 – 2022
I was proof-reading "Mountain Bike Action" magazine tech stories and writing some of my own. I was also providing bike test to "Electric Bike Action" magazine. In the past, I helped Hi-Torque starting its then new "Road Bike Action" magazine.
Publisher & Editor
GPR Publishing S.a.s.2006 – 2022
I was publishing the Italian edition of the American "Mountain Bike Action" magazine, always in a 128+4 page layout with many more components and bikes test.
Founder and CEO
Bike Planet - Mail Order1998 – 2007
I started the first MTB components mail order in Italy, somewhat shaping local market.
Computer Aided Design Mechanical Engineering
Freelance1997 – 1998
Being into mechanical engineering, I wanted to see if handling it full-time was really "my thing". Well, it wasn't. This mostly because doing it freelance as I did meant having to work into too many and too different product environments. And I was also missing the contact with an enthusiastic working team and public of consumers.
Account Manager in Italy
Cannondale1996 – 1997
I handled and developed sales, warranties and service in my area.
Team Manager (MTB World Cup)
GT Bicycles1995 – 1996
I created the team with the help of the main sponsors I found: GT, Shimano, Diadora, Continental, Time and Giro. I enlisted former Time Trial World Champion, the Russian athlete Pavel (T)Cherka(s)sov.
Vice President of Sales
Saimp Sistemi - Mandelli Group1990 – 1992
I handled and developed Far East markets, while assisting President of Sales in every other areas and being often project leader. It was my last stint working with FMS (Flexible Manufacturing System) and high-precision machine tools manufacturers. My clients were automotive industries and I dealt even with Ministers of Industry of some governments, Chinese for instance, given the importance of new car-plants projects.
Area Manager in Italy
Oerlikon Bührle - CH1998 – 1990
I developed and supported my market. The part of the company I worked with had a military (anti-aircraft artillery systems) and a civil (high precision milling machines) departments. Top technology, as you may guess.