Hera Group is a multi-utility, founded in 2002 through the merger of 11 local utilities in the north eastern part of Italy. In addition to managing water in the region, they operate the energy sector and manage waste as well. The network is made up of more than 85,000 km of pipeline. Hera has 128 front offices on the territory; around 8,800 employees; and more than 90 treatment and recovery plants. On April 16, 2018 at the Global Water Summit 2018 in Paris, Stefano Venier, CEO of Hera Group, accepted the offer for membership into the Leading Utilities of the World network and received a 'Golden Tap' award for utility performance, representing the achievement of the highest level of utility service.