Salentino bids ‘arrivederci’ to Complete FS and packaging industry

Salentino said he wanted to spend more time with his wife, new granddaughter and potentially at Southampton FC where opportunities supporting global growth had recently arisen.

He joined the packaging firm in the early 1990s having helped to establish specialist brands Advance Mortgage Funding and C2 Financial and will retire at the end of the year.

“This hasn’t been an overnight decision but one which has been long in the planning,” Salentino said.

He noted that founding director Damian Cain rejoining the business in 2016 meant that he could begin to plan an appropriate exit, with fellow director Phil Jay and Cain taking over many of his responsibilities.

“The business has been on a stable growth curve for the last five years and with Damian back on board working with Phil, I could see that the business would be in good hands,” Salentino continued.

“Therefore it was the right time for me to step down and spend a bit more time with my wife, who retired in September, my family and my first granddaughter, as well as further develop my passion for football coaching at the renowned Southampton FC Academy where I have worked for 19 years.”

Great characters and friends

Salentino added that it was not an easy decision and he had mixed feelings about his departure.

“There’s no doubt I’ll miss the packaging industry, something that I’ve been part of since it began. I will certainly miss some of the great characters and friends I have made over the years,” he said.

“However, I’m not one to sit around and some recent opportunities at Southampton FC have arisen and opened the door to supporting the growth of the global department of the club which has already led to opportunities in Canada, the US and recently Italy, which were very exciting.

“I’d like to say a massive thank you to the industry for giving me some memorable experiences, amazing opportunities and for the pleasure of meeting and making fiends with some remarkable people. I wish you all continued success, good health and happiness. Arrivederci.”