The Advanced Services Group is proud to recognise Paolo Dazi of Konecranes as the Servitization Champion for Leadership 2026, celebrating his leadership in advancing service transformation across a complex global business.
Now in their second year, the Servitization Excellence Awards celebrate outstanding achievements in servitization. Alongside the company awards, the Servitization Champion for Leadership recognises the individuals who make service transformation possible. Paolo received his award at the Advanced Services Partnership Autumn Roundtable in Umbertide, Italy.
Over a number of years, Paolo has played an important role in advancing servitization within Konecranes, building on the company’s strong service capabilities and its commitment to creating greater value for customers through services. Working across product areas and regions, he has helped connect people and ideas, build engagement around new approaches and translate the opportunities of servitization across different parts of the organisation.
Leading service transformation across a global industrial business requires an understanding of different markets, customers and organisational priorities. Paolo has combined that wider perspective with the ability to engage colleagues across the business, adapt approaches to different contexts and maintain a clear focus on how services can create greater value for customers and for Konecranes.
Paolo was delighted to receive the award, saying:
“I am genuinely honoured by this recognition, especially knowing it comes from a community of peers who understand both the opportunities and challenges of business transformation. Over the years, I have learned that meaningful change is never a straight path. Success comes from building coalitions, staying committed through setbacks, and continuously finding new ways forward. This award is a tribute to the many colleagues across Konecranes who have shared that journey with me. While we have made significant progress together, the most exciting chapters still lie ahead, and I look forward to continuing and accelerating that work in close collaboration with our teams and customers.”
Commenting on Paolo’s achievement, Professor Tim Baines, Executive Director of the Advanced Services Group, said:
“What I have always admired about Paolo is the combination of ambition and practical understanding he brings to servitization. He understands both the opportunities that services can create and what it takes to develop them successfully across a global industrial business. His ability to connect the strategic ambition with the needs of different parts of the organisation is a real leadership strength. Paolo has made an important contribution to Konecranes’ progress in servitization over many years, and I think this recognition is thoroughly deserved.”
Reflecting on the wider importance of the awards, Paula Cresswell, Managing Director of the Advanced Services Group, added:
“Behind every successful service transformation are the leaders prepared to challenge established ways of working and keep pushing an idea forward, even when the path isn’t straightforward. That is something we want these awards to shine a light on. There is groundbreaking work happening across manufacturing as businesses evolve to meet increasingly complex technical, economic and global challenges. Recognising the organisations and individuals behind that progress helps make their achievements visible, while highlighting the growing impact that service innovation and servitization are having on productivity, competitiveness and wider economic growth.”
The Advanced Services Group (ASG) is the leading authority on servitization and service-led transformation, working with manufacturers around the world to develop the capabilities, business models and strategies required to grow through services.