Experience
Since 06/20 European Commission Representation in Italy Rome, Italy
Head of Representation
Representative of the President of the European Commission in Italy. Responsible for the two offices in Rome and Milan, with approximately 50 colleagues and an annual budget of 6 million euros. Maintain and promote political, diplomatic, and public relations with the Italian government and national stakeholders, as well as regular contacts with national embassies. Regularly promote and explain EU policies at the national and regional levels through extensive use of traditional and social media, university conferences, and citizen meetings.
10/15 – 05/20 European Union Delegation to the United Nations New York, USA
Minister Counselor - Head of Section for Economy, Trade, and Development
Managed the largest section of the delegation (8 colleagues at AD level) covering the vast majority of the Commission's policies. Lead negotiator for the EU on the Global Compact on Migration. Represented the Delegation in official meetings and events at the UN (including the General Assembly and ECOSOC) and with stakeholders, often at the Ambassadorial level. Represented the delegation in UN negotiations as required. Maintained contacts with European industry in the city on UN policies and trade issues.
04/13 – 09/15 European Commission, Directorate-General for Foreign Trade Belgium
Deputy Chief Negotiator for the EU-Japan
Free Trade Agreement Coordinated the Commission's position in the negotiations (overseeing 14 negotiating groups and about 50 colleagues involved in the negotiations). Advised the Chief Negotiator and the Director-General on all negotiation-related matters. Represented the Commission in negotiations as needed. Represented the Commission in discussions with Member States (both in the TPC and Coreper), European and national parliaments, and other stakeholders.
09/09 – 09/15 European Commission, Directorate-General for Foreign Trade Belgium
Deputy Head of Unit C.1 - Far East
Head of Unit from 01/01/2012 to 31/08/2012.
Trade negotiator for the partnership and cooperation agreement with Mongolia. Represented and managed the unit in the absence of the head of unit. Responsible for administrative and financial matters of the unit.
01/09 – 08/09 Severstal International Moscow, Russia
Vice President of Public Affairs
Covered regions: EU (including Member States), Africa, and Asia.
Areas of focus: governmental affairs, relations with business and trade unions, relations with NGOs. Coordinated the work of local offices on the above-mentioned topics and represented the company at the EU level.
09/07 – 12/08 Severstal Group (Holding) Moscow, Russia
Senior Manager for Business Development
Responsible for the European market for the M&A department. Completed the acquisition of Redaelli in Italy and negotiated acquisitions worth 2 billion euros. Represented Severstal in M&A negotiations primarily in Europe, managing 20-25 people per project. Completed the Severstal top management development program.
09/03 – 08/07 Delegation of the European Commission to the Russian Federation Moscow, Russia
Head of the Trade and Economy Section
Managed an international team of seven professionals responsible for strategic analysis and policy advice on EU-Russia economic relations, as well as monitoring and reporting on Russian trade, economic, and agricultural policies. Member of the delegation's "board of directors." Advocated for EU commercial and economic interests (including private companies) at the highest levels of the Russian government. Negotiator for Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Negotiator for the agreement on the creation of the Common Economic Space between the EU and Russia. Advised the head of the delegation on relations with European and Russian industries. Member of the board of directors of the Russian Association of European Businesses.
07/97 – 08/03 European Commission, Directorate-General for Foreign Trade Belgium Administrator
Negotiator for the accession of twenty countries to the World Trade Organization, including Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Vietnam, Algeria, Lebanon, the Balkans, and several countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Managed teams of key sectoral experts to define negotiation strategies towards acceding countries and other WTO members. Provided advice to the Commissioner for Trade on political strategy and relations with the mentioned countries, including during ministerial meetings, as well as on relations with UN institutions concerning trade matters. DG Trade negotiator for the stability and association agreements with Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and for the EU-Gulf Cooperation Council Free Trade Area. Defined the EU's position at the General Council and the WTO Council on Trade in Goods. Developed and coordinated the Community policy in areas such as trade-labor interaction, globalization, and fair and ethical trade.
11/95 – 07/97 European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market and Financial Services, Brussels, Belgium
Administrator
Analyzed Italian and Portuguese legislation on the free movement of goods. Negotiated legislative changes with the Italian and Portuguese governments to ensure compliance with community law in this area. Prepared and provided advice to the Commission on cases before the Court of Justice. Coordinated the handling of cases related to Directives 83/189 and 92/59 (technical regulations).
02/95 – 05/95 Delegation of the European Commission to the United States, Washington, D.C. Intern - Development Section
Monitored the United States' aid policy towards the Central and Eastern European countries (PECOs), Newly Independent States (NSIs), and African countries. Reported to the delegation on Congressional hearings and State Department briefings. Drafted notes and prepared statistics on EU aid policies and humanitarian action to be distributed to U.S. government agencies and international organizations. Participated in seminars at the International Monetary Fund on African development policies.
10/94 – 01/95 Italian Embassy in the United States, Washington, D.C.
Intern - Assistant to the First Commercial Counselor
Analyzed investment flows between Italy and the USA. Developed detailed policies to promote private investments between Italy and the United States. Compiled extensive profiles of the most important "Think Tanks" in the United States.
12/91 – 05/92 MAT Transport Ltd., London, United Kingdom
Assistant Sales Manager Advised on business matters concerning non-EU countries. Identified and contacted potential clients for Scandinavian and Italian markets. Beneficiary of the COMETT scholarship (now Leonardo).
Education
1993 – 1995 Johns Hopkins University Bologna, Italy/Washington, D.C.
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).
M.A. in International Relations Specialization in International Economics and European Studies. Awarded scholarships by: Rotary Foundation, University of Padua, Banca Nazionale del Lavoro.
1992 – 1993 University of Bologna Bologna, Italy
Faculty of Law
Advanced course in European Community Law Thesis: "Common Foreign and Security Policy: Legal Implications."
1986 – 1991 University of Bologna Bologna, Italy/Paris, France
Faculty of Law
Degree in Law with honors
Concentration: International and Community Law. Thesis: "Legal Aspects of Trade Relations between EC and Japan." Erasmus student at the University of Paris II, France.
Academic experience
Since 2004 University of San Diego (Pericles Able) Moscow, Russia
Professor of WTO Law and EU Law
1999 – 2003 University of Bologna Buenos Aires, Argentina
Professor of International and European Commercial Law at the Master of International Affairs program
1996 – 1999 University of Bologna Bologna, Italy
Guest lecturer on International and European Commercial Law in the LL.M. program
10/93 – 02/94 SAIS, Department of European Studies Bologna, Italy
Teaching Assistant for Community Law
He has given lectures on trade, European, Asian, and Russian affairs and law, including at Harvard Law School, Columbia, Yale, Johns Hopkins University, ENA, MGIMO, Moscow State Law Academy, Moscow Higher School of Economics, ISMAPP, the Institute of International Affairs, Aspen Institute, and numerous Italian universities.
