Dear Clients and Friends
Since end of February – those of us who normally work in our Bergamo headquarters, are working from home. We will keep working from home for as long as necessary.
As all schools, government offices, restaurants and other businesses in Lombardy and Italy as well as other parts of the EU and 150+ other countries close, and as meetings and conferences around the globe get cancelled in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID -19, we have adjusted first.
Like many others in our industry, we have shifted client meetings to conference calls; moved meetings between our clients and prospective partners to audio or video venues, cancelled travel plans, and are trying to spend more time on the phone, and in email and Team chats with each other.
We’re fortunate on several dimensions: unlike the many restaurants, theaters, airlines, hotels and other businesses around us that we normally rely on for support – and usually take for granted, we have a business that allows us to provide full service remotely. Our clients understand and accommodate us. Most don’t want in person meetings right now. They are working from home too.
We are also fortunate that our key tools are available to us remotely – our people all have excellent Internet access. We can and do video chat. Our calendars, email, contacts and our most critical documents are already “in the cloud” or otherwise accessible. Our office lines have been forwarded to personal phones.
We are all concerned about the impact of this forced disruption on Italy, Europe and on the world as a whole. We are well aware that it impacts most those least able to afford it – and that impact increases dramatically as the disruption continues.
During these trying times, we will do what we can for the common good – while remaining open for business – for as long as it takes.
Sincerely,
Roberto Cocchi