Interblock appoints Marco Balliano as COO and President, EMEA

Balliano joins from Haier Europe Group, where he was General Manager of the Food Preparation and Built-In Business Unit

Interblock has appointed Marco Balliano as Chief Operating Officer and President, EMEA, effective 1 September 2026.

The role brings manufacturing planning, quality, procurement and service operations together under one leader. For operators, the focus is clear: delivery they can plan around, responsive parts and service support, and consistent quality on every unit, in every market.

“Our products have always won on the floor, and our customers tell us that the experience around them matters just as much — lead times, spares, service response,” said Kay Oswald, CEO of Interblock. “We want that experience to be every bit as strong as the product itself. Marco joins us to help carry that standard through every part of what we do, and we’re delighted to have him with us.”

As President, EMEA, Balliano will lead the region commercially from Interblock’s site in Mengeš, Slovenia, giving European operators a senior decision-maker in their own time zone. He will also spend significant time in the Americas and Asia-Pacific and will be in Las Vegas from September 22 to attend G2E.

“What struck me about Interblock is the pride the teams take in the product and how close they are to their customers,” said Balliano. “That’s a strong foundation and we’ll build on it together, continuing on the path this company has set and raising the standard as we grow.”

Balliano joins from Haier Europe Group, where he was General Manager of the Food Preparation and Built-In Business Unit, leading a five-year strategic plan and the acquisition and integration of Elba. He previously held senior general management and marketing roles at Candy Group and Whirlpool Europe — businesses built on high-volume manufacturing, multi-country service networks and quality systems operating at scale; experience that complements Interblock’s engineering strength as the company continues to grow.

He holds a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University and has completed executive programs at INSEAD and the University of Michigan.