It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing on Sunday, 16th March of our dear friend and past President, Henry Putnam CBE.
Henry Putnam had been a member of the BCCI since he arrived in Milan in 1969 to Manage the Coats Viyella subsidiary, Cucirini Cantoni Coats. He held this position until his retirement in 1991.
Henry was President of the BCCI from 1973 untill 1975, the year in which he was awarded the OBE. He was again the BCCI President from 1990 – 1993.
In 1991 he was asked to chair the Management committee of the British Institute of Florence, which he did until 2002, after which he was awarded the CBE.
Henry read Economics and Law at Pembroke College Cambridge, which prepared him well for a career in business with the Coats Group, which took him from Glasgow through Spain, Colombia, India, Venezuela, before eventually coming to Italy.
Since his retirement, Henry was the Executive President of the International Wool Secretariat in Italy, famous for the “Woolmark” from 1992 till 1997, and later became a consultant with the human resources group, Right Management Consultants, part of the Manpower Group. In January 2011 Henry became Business Development Manager of Growbp, a Consultancy specializing in individual and group management coaching.
The President, Council and Staff of The British Chamber of Commerce for Italy extend their sincere condolences to Henry’s sons Timothy and Dominic, and to his family and friends.
Message from Timothy and Dominic Putnam:
“Dear friends,
It is with great sadness that my brother Dominic and I inform you of the passing of our father Henry on Sunday, March 16th, following a brief illness.
His cremation and funeral will take place on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Varese Crematorium, Via P. Maspero, 40, 21100 in Varese, and you are welcome to join us, if you can.”