Mountains in Italy
October 31, 2025

A Conversation with Giovanni Russo, Partner & Head of Italy at Vidia

We’re delighted to welcome Giovanni Russo, who joins Vidia after more than two decades advising on European private equity transactions. In his new role, he’ll lead our Italian market entry, an entrepreneurial, mid-cap landscape that’s a natural fit for Vidia’s hands-on, scale-up approach to investment and value creation. We spoke with Giovanni about his new mandate, why Italy now, and what motivates him as he builds Vidia’s presence on the ground.

A portrait of Giovanni Russo

You’ve been with Dechert LLP for over two decades. What made you join Vidia?

After more than two decades advising private equity clients on acquisitions, and business owners and management teams on exits, I wanted to stay within the same ecosystem while moving closer to the entrepreneurial side of value creation. Vidia’s focus on impact, innovation, and long-term partnerships, together with its European identity, resonates deeply with me. I’ve known the Vidia team for many years through various professional and personal interactions and have always admired their integrity, depth of expertise, and purpose-driven approach. Joining Vidia was a natural next step and an opportunity to connect my professional experience with my Italian roots and my passion for entrepreneurship.

What will be your priorities in your new role during the first months?

My initial focus will be to leverage and expand Vidia’s network in Italy, building strong relationships with advisors, entrepreneurs, and industry partners to identify the most promising opportunities. I’ll also explore potential add-ons for our existing portfolio companies and new platform investments that fit Vidia’s thematic focus on decarbonization and industrial transformation. In parallel, I aim to position Vidia as a trusted partner for Italian entrepreneurs, demonstrating that we bring not only capital but also real strategic and operational support and long-term commitment.

Why is Vidia expanding into the Italian market?

Italy has an incredibly rich mid-market segment: full of family-owned companies that combine technical excellence with creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Many of them are now entering a new phase, where succession and growth come together, and that’s exactly where Vidia can add value. For us, Italy is a natural extension of our strategy: our thematic focus on climate solutions aligns closely with Italy’s core strengths in manufacturing, energy transition, and advanced materials.

Which sectors in Italy look most promising to you?

We see significant potential in sectors that are critical to Europe’s decarbonization journey, such as industrial efficiency, clean technologies, circular economy solutions, and advanced manufacturing. Italian companies often excel in niche areas with high export potential, and many have the agility to adapt and lead the transformation toward a more sustainable economy.

What can Italian founders expect from you and Vidia as partners, especially in succession situations? How will you preserve a company’s DNA while driving growth?

What sets Vidia apart is the way we approach partnerships: with genuine respect for the people and culture behind every company. In succession situations, that’s even more important. We don’t want to change what makes a business special; instead, we work closely with founders to ensure continuity: preserving the company’s DNA while strengthening its structure, capabilities, and international reach. Italian founders can expect us to be collaborative, transparent, and long-term in our thinking. We’re here to build something together, not just invest.