Last Updated on: 22nd November 2023, 07:57 pm
Roberto Blanda is an organisational performance consultant working and living in London. Prior to this, Blanda had pursued an international career in human resources, working for several world-renowned companies. He has also enjoyed a successful professional rowing career, beginning with his selection for the national team of his home country Italy at the age of 17.
When he was 21 he represented his country at the Barcelona Olympic Games in 1992, which led to him being awarded a scholarship to the University of Washington in Seattle. During his time at university, Blanda rowed on the Intercollegiate circuit while reading for his Romantic Linguistics and French degree. Upon completion of this degree, he returned to Italy and was selected for a second appearance at the Olympics as part of the coxed eight team for Italy at the Atlanta 1996 Games.
After the Atlanta Olympics were complete, Roberto Blanda applied to study for a Master of Science degree at Oxford University in England; he spent twelve months there studying Educational Research. He was also chosen to represent the college as part of the Blue Boat team at the Oxford Cambridge Boat Race, a unique honour as he was – and still is – the first and only Italian to be selected throughout the entire history of the event.
Once his post-graduate studies were complete, Blanda embarked on his first professional role at Servier Italy, as HR Manager. His prowess in this role soon led to his promotion to HR Director, a role he embraced alongside further study for an Executive Master of Business degree, which he completed at the SDA Bocconi School of Management in Milan.
For several years following his time at Servier, Roberto Blanda worked within the HR section of the motor industry in Italy. He worked as the HR General Manager in Rome for Toyota Italy, before moving to Mercedes-Benz Italy (part of the Daimler-Chrysler Group) where he was the Corporate HR Director.
Blanda moved away from the motor industry in 2012, when he took the job of HR Director for the Italian branch of British American Tobacco. This move was part of a plan to pursue an international career. Blanda later moved to London with BAT, where he started as Global Head of Talent Acquisition and later became Group Head of HR for Operations.
Throughout his corporate career, Blanda has also pursued numerous opportunities for coaching and management training and is undertaking a management coaching course to hone these skills.
