The entrepreneur Francesco Merloni died at the age of 99: he was a parliamentarian and minister

Engineer Francesco Merloni, honorary president of Ariston Group, died today at the age of 99 in his home in Fabriano (Ancona). Ariston Group reports this. Merloni, who was a parliamentarian, minister and captain of industry, leaves behind his wife Maria Cecilia Lazzarini and his children Paolo, president of Ariston Group, Francesca and Claudia.
«Entrepreneur and Knight of Labor, Francesco Merloni – recalls the company – was one of the protagonists of Italian industry who, taking up the legacy of his father Aristide, dedicated his career to the international development of the family company».

A life made up of many lives, that of Francesco Merloni: parliamentarian, minister, captain of industry. But all with the Marche region as the center of gravity, Fabriano, in particular. Last September 17th he celebrated his 99th birthday surrounded by the affection of his family. He was also inextricably linked to the «Aristide Merloni» Foundation, a research body of excellence in the promotion and development of local entrepreneurial culture, of which he was president.
Son of Aristide Merloni, founder of Ariston and Merloni Industries, he graduated in Industrial Engineering at the University of Pisa. In the 1950s he began working in the family business. He entered Parliament, for the first time and as a senator, in 1972 with the Christian Democrats. He was also re-elected in six other legislatures: five in the Chamber and another in the Senate.
In the first government presided over by Giuliano Amato he was appointed Minister of Public Works, sworn in on 28 June 1992 by the new President of the Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro. With the fall of Amato and the appointment of the Governor of the Bank of Italy Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Merloni was confirmed as Minister until the end of the Ciampi Government, 11 May 1994. His was the so-called Merloni Law, a radical reform of the public procurement system , also carrying out the transformation of Anas into a public economic body.

With the disappearance of the DC, Francesco Merloni joined the parliamentary group of the Democratic People’s Party – the Ulivo continued. In the primary elections of the Democratic Party in 2007 he declared his support for the candidacy of Enrico Letta, Merloni’s long-time personal friend, as secretary of the Democratic Party. Also a great friend of the former Prime Minister, Romano Prodi. Alongside his political experience, he continued his second successful life as a captain of industry.
In the Matelica plant it began producing gas cylinders and tanks, then in Castelraimondo the photovoltaic panels to heat water, and in Fabriano the water heaters. In a few years, Merloni Termosanitari was born, which later became Ariston Group specializing in heating and air conditioning systems. A multinational present with sites in 17 countries, 29 in total, and which closed the 2023 budget with 3.1 billion euros in revenues, 212 million euros in net profit. Group listed on the Milan Stock Exchange since 2021 and that day Francesco Merloni, with his son Paolo to whom he had handed over the reins of Ariston in 2011, was present to ring the bell.

Probably the life that Francesco Merloni loved most was the one with his family: his wife Maria Cecilia Lazzarini and his children Paolo, Francesca and Claudia. «An era is definitively closing», the emotional comment of the former mayor of Fabriano, Roberto Sorci, historical collaborator of the entire Merloni family.