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Roberto Quarta

Roberto Quarta is an Italian-origin businessman and executive with over four decades of experience in global corporate leadership, currently serving as Chairman of Europe at (), where he has been a partner since 2001. He is recognized for his roles in and growing and firms, including as former Chairman of until the end of 2024, plc until 2023, and . Born to Italian parents and raised initially in Piacenza, , before moving to the east coast of the , Quarta earned a degree from the in . His early career included living in and , followed by relocation to , where he built his professional foundation in . Quarta's executive tenure began with senior leadership positions at , a major British engineering conglomerate, where he advanced to the board level. From 1993 to 2001, he served as of BBA Group plc, overseeing its and , and continued as Chairman until 2006. At , he has played key operational roles in investments such as , where he acted as Chairman, and , chairing its supervisory board from 2005 to 2014. Additionally, Quarta has held non-executive directorships at prominent companies including BAE Systems plc, Corporation, and PowerGen plc, contributing to boards across public and private sectors. He currently serves as an independent at Gulf Capital.

Early life and education

Childhood and immigration

Roberto Quarta was born on May 10, 1949, in , , to Italian parents. His father, a by trade, initially emigrated to to run a shop before relocating to the to establish a tailoring business. Quarta spent his early childhood in , experiencing a relatively stable family life amid the post-World War II economic challenges facing many Italian families at the time. At the age of 15, in 1964, Quarta emigrated to the ahead of his parents, joining relatives in while his family eventually settled in , , where his father continued working as a . This move marked a significant transition for the family, as they adjusted to life in urban , navigating cultural differences and economic opportunities in the immigrant-heavy neighborhoods of . Upon arrival, Quarta faced the challenges of , entering high school with minimal language skills and relying on family support to adapt. The immigrant experience, including frequent moves between , , and the during his youth, fostered a strong sense of determination and an international perspective that shaped his approach to challenges. His background as the son of immigrants instilled a rigorous , often described as a drive to prove oneself in a new environment.

Higher education

Quarta attended the in , where he pursued his undergraduate studies following his family's . He earned a (BA) degree from the institution in 1971, during a period marked by significant social and economic changes in American . He majored in languages. His education at , a Jesuit emphasizing and , laid a foundational framework for his subsequent career in and .

Business career

Early positions at BTR

Roberto Quarta began his professional career in the industrial sector after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the . In , he joined , a prominent British industrial conglomerate, following the company's acquisition of Worcester Controls Corporation, where Quarta had been working. He was appointed Manufacturing Director of Worcester Controls in and quickly advanced to Managing Director of the same entity. Over the next several years, Quarta's responsibilities expanded significantly within BTR's operations. He progressed to Group Managing Director of the BTR Group, overseeing and activities. By 1989, he served as Chief Executive of various divisions, managing large-scale operations that included elements. His tenure at BTR spanned 17 years, during which he held a series of positions focused on operational efficiency and . Quarta's contributions at BTR were particularly notable in the United States market, where he managed billion-dollar businesses and played a key role in building up the conglomerate's and operations. These efforts supported BTR's international expansion by enhancing its presence in diverse industrial sectors. In 1993, he was appointed Executive Director of , joining the board and gaining oversight of broader corporate strategies, including acquisitions and global growth initiatives. His work during this period earned him a as a leading industrial manager, emphasizing sustainable growth over mere cost reductions.

Executive leadership at BBA Group

Roberto Quarta was appointed of BBA Group plc, a British multinational conglomerate, in 1993, drawing on his prior executive experience at . Under his leadership, Quarta initiated a comprehensive restructuring program to streamline operations and refocus the diverse portfolio on high-growth core sectors, including aviation services and nonwovens materials. This involved divesting numerous non-core businesses, closing approximately two dozen underperforming units, and reducing the workforce by around 2,000 employees to eliminate redundancies and improve efficiency. Quarta's strategy emphasized strategic acquisitions to bolster the targeted sectors, such as the purchase of Fiberweb, a nonwovens textiles division, which strengthened BBA's position in , and the $52 million acquisition of Aviation Services in 1999, enhancing the aviation support capabilities. He also pursued market expansions, including a $50 million in a new factory in to capitalize on emerging demand in . These efforts drove significant financial improvements, with organic revenue growth reaching 6 percent in 1999 and the company's share price doubling at its peak during his tenure as CEO from 1993 to 2001. Following his CEO role, Quarta transitioned to Chairman of BBA Group plc in 2001, a position he held as the company rebranded to BBA plc after the 2006 of its nonwovens division. He continued in this non-executive leadership capacity until 2007, overseeing the stabilization and further refinement of the aviation-focused entity amid ongoing industry challenges.

Partnership at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

In 2001, Roberto Quarta joined () as a partner, bringing his extensive executive experience to the private equity firm's European operations. Based in , he focused on value creation through operational improvements in portfolio companies, leveraging his background in . Quarta played a lead operating role in several key investments, notably the 2011 acquisition of , a European provider of multi-technical services including telecom infrastructure, where he served as a until 2017. His involvement helped drive the company's growth and restructuring, contributing to its successful repositioning in competitive markets. This hands-on approach exemplified 's strategy of active partnership in transforming businesses across Europe. In his capacity at CD&R, Quarta was appointed Chairman of CD&R Europe, where he oversees the firm's European and portfolio companies, emphasizing long-term and market expansion. Under his leadership, the European arm has managed investments in sectors such as industrial services and , fostering sustainable value for stakeholders. As of 2025, Quarta continues as a partner and Chairman of CD&R Europe, while also serving in connected to the firm, including as an independent at Gulf Capital, a investor in the . His ongoing roles underscore his enduring influence in global .

Key chairmanships and board roles

Roberto Quarta served as non-executive Chairman of , a FTSE 250 company, from November 2011 to March 2015. He joined the board as a in June 2011 before assuming the chairmanship role, where he led the nominations committee and contributed to strategic governance in the global sector. His supported IMI's focus on critical solutions, including technologies, during a period of operational restructuring. Quarta was appointed non-executive Chairman of plc, a FTSE 100 medical technology firm, effective January 2014, serving until the end of 2023. In this role, he oversaw advancements in orthopedic and innovations, including the development of robotic-assisted surgical systems and wound care products that enhanced the company's global market position. Quarta also guided key executive transitions, notably the appointment of Diggelmann as CEO in October 2019 following the stepping down of Namal Nawana, ensuring continuity in the firm's growth strategy amid competitive pressures in medical devices. From June 2015 to January 2025, Quarta held the position of non-executive Chairman of , the world's largest and . He assumed an interim Executive Chairman role in April 2018 following the resignation of CEO amid an internal investigation, stabilizing operations and leading the search for a permanent successor, Mark Read, who was appointed later that year. Under Quarta's oversight, WPP navigated challenges, including mergers like the 2023 combination of agencies and investments in data-driven marketing technologies, while maintaining revenue growth to over £14 billion by 2023. His tenure concluded with a smooth handover to , former CEO, effective January 1, 2025. In addition to these chairmanships, Quarta held significant board roles at other major firms, emphasizing governance and strategic oversight. He served as Chairman of SA, a global distributor of electrical products, from 2005 to 2014 during Clayton, Dubilier & Rice's ownership, contributing to its expansion in professional distribution networks across and . At , an telecommunications firm and CD&R portfolio company, Quarta acted as Chairman, guiding board decisions on digital infrastructure projects and IPO preparations to enhance competitiveness in network services. As of November 2025, Quarta holds no major public company chairmanships, focusing instead on his role as Chairman of CD&R , where he advises on investments in industrial and services sectors.

Personal life

Family and marriages

Quarta has one son and one daughter from his first marriage, both of whom reside in the United States. He later remarried Jane Quarta. His extensive career has shaped family dynamics, contributing to the children's upbringing across the US while Quarta himself was based in the UK and Europe during much of his professional life.

Residences and citizenship

Roberto Quarta was born in on May 10, 1949. Following family , at around the age of 15, he moved to the to live with relatives in . Quarta holds dual Italian and American citizenship, having become a naturalized U.S. citizen following his . His primary residence is in , , where official records list his country of residence. Reflecting his Italian origins and American naturalization, Quarta maintains ongoing connections to both and the , embodying a lifestyle marked by regular travel across continents.

References

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