A Decade of growth: Francesco's 10-year journey with Exel Composites

As Exel has grown — from our founding in 1960 to the global leader we are today — so have our people. In this article, Francesco Ierullo reflects on his ten-year anniversary, sharing the milestones, challenges, and personal connections that have made his journey with Exel an unforgettable part of his life.

Q: It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years since you first joined Exel. How do you feel looking back on your journey?

A: It’s honestly been an amazing journey, and I feel incredibly honored to have been part of Exel for the past ten years. Looking back, it’s been a decade filled with challenges that pushed me to grow and moments I’ll never forget.

The incredible range of experiences I’ve had — from trying new things and stepping into different roles, to constantly testing myself — has made the time fly by. Starting out in my native Italy and now serving as VP of Sales & Marketing and living in the US, I’ve had the chance to travel the globe and work on some truly exciting projects. One standout moment was leading the conductor core trials in Runcorn, UK. Exel has supported me at every step, both personally and professionally, and for that, I’m truly grateful.

When I started as area sales manager at Exel Composites in 2015, the composites market was valued at $29.08 billion — the same year the Paris Climate Agreement was adopted. Today, as vice president of sales, I’m proud to see the market’s remarkable growth, now worth $125.6 billion.

Q: Let’s rewind a bit. How did your career with composites begin?

A: My journey with composites began in 2006 during my master’s thesis at Politecnico di Milano, which is where I earned my degree in mechanical engineering and design. The material fascinated me right from the start, and I knew that I wanted to explore it further.

After graduating, I began my career at PULLCOM S.r.l., a local Italian pultrusion company, as a production engineer. Eventually, I transitioned into R&D, which allowed me to dig deeper into the world of composites. After my time in Italy, I moved to Barcelona, Spain, where I spent three years as an R&D Project Manager at Fundació Privada Ascamm. There, I worked on thermoplastic pultrusion projects funded by the EU and private companies.

Q: What was the turning point in your career that led you to Exel?

A: The defining moment came in 2014 when I saw an opening at Exel for an area sales manager in Italy. I had tried to get in with Exel four times before, so when I saw the opportunity, I thought, “This is my chance.” A few weeks later, I was contacted to schedule an interview with Josef Lanzmaier and Kari Loukola. What was supposed to be a one-hour interview and a quick factory tour ended up being a three-hour conversation. At one point, Kari asked me, “Shouldn’t you be heading back to catch your flight?” I smiled and replied, “I can miss it—we’re having too much fun here.” This was the turning point in my career; in March 2015 I joined the Exel team.

Q: What did it feel like to officially join Exel in March 2015?

A: It was an incredible moment — I officially became Exel’s first-ever Italian area sales manager and employee. With my background in pultrusion, I felt ready to dive right in. During my time in Italy, I saw success in tripling turnover in less than three years and that momentum set the stage for everything that followed.

Q: Your career at Exel has been marked by impressive growth. Can you tell us about your role as head of sales south & west Europe and IMEA?

A: In 2019, I transitioned into the role of head of sales for south & west Europe and IMEA. Leading a fantastic team, we drove over 50 per cent growth in market share in just three years. It was a great experience working alongside such talented colleagues and building on the solid foundation we had in place.

Q: Moving to the US must have been a big step. What was that transition like?

A: Moving to the US as Head of Sales, Americas, in 2021 was both an exciting and challenging step. Composites had been a part of my life since my studies, so bringing that passion and expertise to the US felt like a natural evolution. At the same time, my wife and I were expecting our first child,Christian, so life was moving fast — but it was all wonderfully thrilling.

Q: You’ve been part of some major milestones at Exel. What was one of your proudest achievements?

A: One of the most memorable moments came in 2019 when my team and I conducted Exel’s first-ever conductor core trials in Runcorn, UK. This was a big milestone for us as it marked Exel’s official entry into the conductor core market — now one of the biggest trends in global pultrusion, alongside wind energy.

Q: Looking back on your ten years at Exel, what stands out the most to you?

A: What stands out to me the most is the people I’ve had the privilege to work with. I’m proud to have worked alongside so many amazing colleagues who share the same values and dedication to driving Exel forward. We’ve built a culture of care that extends not only to each other but also to our customers — and that’s why some of our customers have been with us for nearly 30 years.

I am immensely happy, proud, and grateful to be part of this extraordinary family and its incredible journey in a company that gave me all the opportunities and the tools to grow as a person and a professional. Here’s to the next chapter.

Interested in joining our forward-thinking team? Visit here.