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It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of Enrico ‘Rico’ Ciolina last week.
Our thoughts are with Rico’s family, friends and the many people who knew him throughout the recycling industry and beyond; knowing Rico, we are sure that is a very extensive list.
“I was first introduced to Rico when I joined Blaker Group and we got talking about his long involvement in the recycling industry.“At the time, BlakerTech, the recycling machinery division of Blaker Group, was developing its machinery portfolio and working with Rutherford Metal Recovery, a business the Group would subsequently acquire.
“What always struck me was his incredible memory. He could reel off the names of people, companies and locations around the world where individual pieces of equipment had been sold, often going back decades.
“He also had plenty of stories from those early years, travelling extensively, staying in some fairly basic accommodation and, on occasions, even sleeping in his car!
“Rico was a genuine, passionate and traditional salesperson. He knew how to communicate, in four languages, but perhaps more importantly, he was a brilliant listener. He was a true professional and a great ambassador for the companies, people and values he represented.
“Over the years Rico introduced me to many people, particularly at trade events. But our conversations weren’t always about work. He loved his golf and looked forward to days out with his golfing buddies. He also appreciated good food and a small glass of wine, and we spent many hours talking about our families and sharing stories about life outside the industry.
“I will truly miss Rico, his positivity and, above all, his great company.
“RIP Rico. Reflecting on one of our previous conversations, I hope wherever you have gone there’s a golf course waiting for you and perhaps that elusive hole in one.”