October 2026

For those who don't yet know Excellera, tell us a little about the Group, what it stands for, and what are your ambitions for the business?

Excellera is a Corporate Affairs group operating across EMEA. We advise CEOs, boards and C-suites on their most complex decisions, bringing together public affairs, corporate and financial communications and data intelligence in a single integrated model. We built it this way because the forces that reach a company no longer arrive one at a time: political, regulatory, financial and reputational dynamics are increasingly interconnected. Founded in Italy in 2022, today we bring together more than 400 professionals across 15 offices in nine countries, with revenues above EUR 80 million. But before anything else Excellera is a community of professionals: the Group exists to give them a platform none of us could have built alone. Our ambition is to be the reference point for Corporate Affairs in EMEA, able to compete with the major international players while keeping the quality of attention clients expect from a specialist firm.

You've built Excellera into a leading corporate affairs consultancy across EMEA. How did the business begin, and what have been some of the defining moments in that journey?

It began in November 2022, when CZP & Co., the leading public affairs consultancy in Italy, and Community, one of the strongest names in corporate and financial communications, decided to build something together, bringing public affairs, corporate and financial communications under one roof. Two more public affairs firms joined soon after: Public Affairs Advisors, specialising in energy and infrastructure, and Value Relations, in life sciences. Barabino & Partners followed in 2024, bringing the two most reputed communications firms in Italy into the same Group, along with offices in London, Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Munich and New York — alongside the Brussels presence CZP had built from the start. Around the same time came the data science business on which we built Excellera Intelligence. In 2025 we entered the Middle East with IP Excellera. In December 2025, ICG invested in the Group, marking the beginning of a new phase of growth and expansion: Ad Hoc in Italy in July, Alma in the UK in September, and, most recently, Fourtold in Brussels. Mergermarket ranked us first in EMEA by number of M&A deals advised in the first half of 2026 - recognition of the work done by all our people.

You talk about combining data and intelligence with strategic advice. Why do you think that combination is becoming increasingly important, and what does great strategic advisory look like to you?

Because leaders do not need more information. They need to know what matters and what it means for the decision in front of them. Data is the compass that helps us navigate complexity, identify opportunities, and shape the right strategies. By combining data-driven insights with experience and strategic thinking, we turn information into meaningful decisions and measurable impact. That is why we did not simply buy tools: we brought a data science business into the Group, built the capability inside it, and are now developing our own intelligence products. Data and AI sit in every mandate - reputation, public affairs, transactions, crisis - rather than in a separate department. We use them to detect the signals that matter, interpret them, and measure what happens after we advise. It is an AI-enabled model, not an automated one: technology extends the expertise of our people rather than replacing it. That is the new way of advising we are building.

And we have to ask, why Alma? What was it about the business, its people and its approach to clients that made it a natural fit for Excellera?

London is where European capital markets happen, and we wanted to be properly present there, with a team that boards and investors already trust. Alma is one of the strongest firms in that market, with an excellent record on transactions. But what convinced us was the people. Alma brings together great professionals who share our values and our approach to the business: integrity, transparency, and genuine care for people. We also appreciated their practical, client-focused approach. This common ground made the conversation possible from the very beginning and provides a solid foundation for the road ahead.

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Please note: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the individual financial professional(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Alma Strategic. These insights are provided for informational purposes only and may not be relevant at the time of reading, as market conditions can change rapidly. The information provided should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial product or security. Individuals should conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Alma Strategic disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this interview.