Spartan Profiles: Francisco Itzaina
ROLLS ROYCE IN SOUTH AMERICA
Once maker of the world’s foremost automobile, Rolls Royce today is mainly involved with power on land, sea and air, with more than 50 percent of the world market for gas turbines for aircraft. The company employs around 35,000 worldwide and generates £6 billion a year in sales to a customer base of more than 500 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armed forces and more than 2,000 marine customers, including 50 navies. Heading its $700-million operations in South America is Francisco Itzaina, MBA ’74. “I enjoy the job greatly,” says Itzaina from his office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. “Rolls-Royce has a magnificent brand, built over the last 100 years by delivering quality products and services all over the world.”
His clients include Embraer, the world’s fourth largest aircraft manufacturer, and Petrobras, one of the world’s largest oil and gas company.
A native of Montevideo, Uruguay, Francisco went to Dondero High School in Royal Oak as a “Youth For Understanding” exchange student. He then graduated from Saginaw Valley College, after which he chose MSU for graduate studies on the advice of former trustee Warren Huff. “MSU was the right choice for me,” he says. “It provided me with the education I needed throughout my diversified career.”
In the next 30 years, he has held management positions in finance, market research, sales and management, working for companies in food packaging, cosmetics packaging, paper products and heavy engineering sectors. In particular, he lauds former business dean Richard Lewis. “Some of his pragmatic teachings have remained fresh in my mind up to the present,” recalls Francisco. 'Such as, ‘Never commit until you actually have to, but then do it swiftly without losing time.’”
Another key to success he learned at MSU was to establish goals. As he puts it, “Without knowing where you want to go, it is difficult to get there.”