“Welcome to the Alpine family, Franco!” The post by de Meo, born in Milan 57 years ago and with three decades of experience in the world of motors, begins by saying.
“We are very excited to welcome Franco Colapinto to the Alpine team. His incredible talent and great determination will be a great boost for our path forward. We are ready to break boundaries together. Let’s make this season unforgettable!Come on, Baby!” add later.
That last phrase from the Italian, with a very Argentine colloquialism, generated surprise, especially since he was a businessman with a serious profile. And Pablo Sibilia, president and CEO of Renault Argentina, joined in with a comment that replicates that same phrase. “Come on baby!” Sibilia wrote.
De Meo, a Business Administration graduate from the Università Commerciale Luigi Bocconi in Milan, began his career in 1992 and worked at Renault, Toyota Europe, Fiat Group and Volskwagen Group, among other well-known leading brands in the automotive sector.
After being Marketing Director of the Volskwagen Group, member of the Sales and Marketing Board of Directors of Audi AG and president of SEAT and CUPRA, among other hierarchical positions in which he served, in July 2020 he took over as CEO of the Renault group and barely A few months later he also took the position of member of the Board of Directors of the French brand.
And of course, when Colapinto’s arrival at Alpine became official after competing in nine races in the Formula 1 with Williams, the Italian businessman did not miss the opportunity to congratulate him and wrote that message, which accompanies a photo of the pilot with a training shirt of the Argentine soccer team.
De Meo was seen on more than one occasion in the paddock of F1 with Flavio Briatore, Alpine’s main sports advisor and who promoted Colapinto’s jump to the French team.
“Hello, guys, this message for all Argentines who follow Formula 1: Franco Colapinto has signed with the Alpine team. We have reached an agreement with Williams. Now we are taking off. The good news is that Franco is the driver of our team Bye… And long live Argentina!” Briatore said days ago, with a black cap and tinted glasses, from the seat of a private jet.
Evidently, the Colapintomania It is not an exclusive thing for Argentine fans, but the recognition for the 21-year-old driver is global in scope. And it is celebrated.