Driving Innovation and Resilience: Insights from Ardian and COROB
Growth stories
Driving Innovation and Resilience: Insights from Ardian and COROB
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14 February 2025
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Expansion
Reading time: 2 minutes
Marco Molteni
Managing Director
Marco Molteni joined Ardian in Milan in 2007. Previously, he was Senior Associate at Finlombarda Gestioni SGR, a Venture Capital and private equity firm. From 2001 to 2005, he was Associate at Argos Soditic in Milan. He began his career at the Deutsche Bank in Milan as a Fixed Income Desk Sales Support.
Corob & Ardian: Navigating challenges
Explore the transformative journey of Corob with Ardian's strategic partnership, culminating in the successful acquisition of the company by Graco.
Driving Sustainable Innovation with COROB through Strategic Partnerships
When Ardian sought a new CEO to lead COROB in 2019, Erik Bothorel accepted the challenge, motivated by Ardian’s transparency, expertise and collaborative approach. “The team’s long tenure and clear communication inspired confidence,” Bothorel shared.
The early days were demanding, as COROB faced significant financial obstacles. Ardian’s proactive involvement in renegotiating loans and providing strategic guidance was instrumental in stabilizing the company and charting a course for recovery.
What really pushed me to join the journey was the people I met from Ardian during the interviews. I think you explained in a very detailed way the challenges and complexity of the organization.
Under Bothorel’s leadership, COROB streamlined operations, focused on R&D and introduced a new range of sustainable tinting systems. “Even during the pandemic, Ardian encouraged investment in innovation when others might have cut costs,” he emphasized.
Since your time at COROB, you've also developed a new technology in your core business: the tinting system.
This forward-thinking approach enabled COROB to strengthen its market position while aligning with sustainability goals—an achievement celebrated during its 40th anniversary with the launch of advanced dispensing machines.
Discover COROB's journey and its exciting future ahead in the video ↑
