Fernando Napolitano
Fernando Napolitano | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 15, 1964 Naples, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, CEO |
| Known for | President and CEO of NEWEST (formerly Italian Business & Investment Initiative) |
Fernando Napolitano (born September 15, 1964) is an Italian entrepreneur who serves as the president and CEO of NEWEST, formerly known as Italian Business & Investment Initiative (IB&II).
Established in 2010 in New York by Napolitano, IB&II was created to support investment flows between Italy and the United States by delivering strategic insights on Italian investment prospects. By 2017, the initiative broadened its scope to encompass wider European leadership. Since 2013, Napolitano has overseen the yearly New York gathering titled "The International Exchange. Investing in Italy and a New Europe" (previously "Italy Meets the United States of America"), which fosters direct connections between European decision-makers and American investors and thought leaders. In 2019, The Voice of Business was introduced as a unique media outlet featuring original English interviews with prominent Italian and European business and political figures. The transformation of IB&II into NEWEST occurred in 2020, aiming to advance a fresh EU-US commercial outlook that highlights Europe's role in the US market under Italy’s guidance. In July 2021, Pimm Fox was appointed Editor in Chief of The Voice of Business, bringing significant expertise from Bloomberg L.P., where he hosted financial shows and conducted interviews with key global business and political personalities.
Biography
Napolitano was born in Naples on September 15, 1964. He previously played for Italy’s national water polo team and has concentrated his professional efforts on supporting SMEs and start-ups in Italy. His father, Luigi Gerardo Napolitano (1928–1991), was an engineer, scientist, and academic who directed the Institute of Aerodynamics at the University of Naples and is recognized for pioneering “Microgravity.” As an athlete, Fernando captained the Circolo Canottieri Napoli club and competed with the Italian Under-21 national team that secured the European Championship title in 1984.[1]
NEWEST & The Italian Business & Investment Initiative along with other positions
In 2010, Napolitano launched the Italian Business & Investment Initiative based in New York to showcase Italy’s investment potential.
Since 2015, he has held an independent board member role at Mediaset S.p.A. and participates on the international advisory board of Innogest SGR S.p.A., a venture capital firm. Additionally, he chairs the steering committee for the BEST Program scholarship and contributes as an advisory board member at Bologna Business School, University of Bologna.
Professional Experience
Between 1990 and 2011 (with Booz & Co from 2008), Napolitano was senior vice president and managing director at Booz Allen Hamilton Italy, where he led the Organization and Strategy practice focusing on telecommunications, media, aerospace, and energy industries. His earlier career included marketing roles at Procter & Gamble Italia and Laben S.p.A.
Past Roles and Affiliations
- Board Member at Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI NASDAQ), 2016–2017 - Board Member at ENEL S.p.A., 2002–2014 - Board Member at Italian Aerospace Research Center, 2002–2006 - Member of Aspen Institute Italia, 2001–2010 - Member of Council on Foreign Relations, New York, 2004–2010
Education
Napolitano earned his degree in economics summa cum laude from the University of Naples Federico II. He also holds a Master of Science in Management from Brooklyn Polytechnic (now NYU-Poly) and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
The Italian Business & Investment Initiative
Guided by Napolitano, NEWEST (previously known as the Italian Business & Investment Initiative) established a Board of Advisors in New York in 2015, composed of influential US-based business figures to strengthen its development and market presence. In 2013, he launched the summit titled “Italy Meets the United States of America,” which transformed in 2017 into "The International Business Exchange. Investing in Italy and a new Europe," designed to promote direct engagement between European and Italian officials and investors from the United States.
Best Scholarship
The Best Program is a scholarship overseen by the Fulbright Commission in Italy, supported by the US Embassy to Italy, the Best Program Steering Committee, and Invitalia. Napolitano acts as chairman of its steering committee.
This initiative focuses on Italian students at undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels who present innovative business concepts derived from scientific research or professional experience. Since 2014, it has expanded to include candidates from design and fashion disciplines. Over ten years, 87 Italians have participated, leading to the creation of 37 high-tech startups within Italy.
Publications and other achievements
Napolitano contributes as a columnist for Panorama magazine and its online edition, Panorama - This is Italy. In 2002 and 2007, he coordinated two Harvard Business School case studies on Italy’s economy: “Italy: A New Commitment to Growth” and “Italy: If not now, when?”.
He co-wrote the 2008 book Megacommunities: How Leaders of Government, Business and Non-Profits Can Tackle Today’s Global Challenges Together. Additionally, in 2010, he edited his father’s biography titled Lo spazio, il quarto ambiente. Storia di Luigi Gerardo Napolitano, published by IlSole24Ore Edizioni.
In recognition of his efforts to enhance US-Italy relations, Napolitano was awarded the One To World Fulbright Award for Cross-Cultural Leadership in 2014.
Articles and interviews
Napolitano's media engagements include:
Il Giorno: Dec. 30, 2013 - Interview discussing strategies to make Expo the premier event of 2015 CLASS CNBC: Dec. 18, 2013 - Interview with Fernando Napolitano RAI: Oct. 15, 2013 - Appearance on TGR Piazza Affari SKY TG 24: Oct. 15, 2013 - Interview on Sky TG24 Pomeriggio Panorama: Sept. 26, 2013 - http://italianbusiness.org/destinazione-italia-f-napolitanos-view-panorma-9262013/ Panorama: Apr. 4, 2013 - http://economia.panorama.it/mondo/Start-up-in-Usa-Fernando-Napolitano-che-bell-idea-ti-trovo-i-dollari Panorama (Op-eds) - http://www.thisisitaly-panorama.com/topic/fernando-napolitano/ Corriere della Sera Jun. 13, 2013 - http://www.corriere.it/economia/13_giugno_18/usa-investitori-italia-startup-hi-tech_c770aefe-d821-11e2-98e6-97ca5b2e4e27.shtml Financial Times Sept. 2013 - http://italianbusiness.org/fernando-napolitano-financial-times-09-2013/ Il Sole 24 Ore Jun. 21, 2013 - http://italianbusiness.org/an-hi-tech-bridge-between-italy-and-the-u-s-il-sole-24-ore-21-jun-2013/ CNBC, Jan. 2013 - http://italianbusiness.org/napolitano-cnbc-interview-on-pope-feb-11-summit/ SKY TG 24 - Aug. 14, 2013 - SKY Tg 24 Pomeriggio, Startapp Bloomberg Television, Nov. 14, 2011 - https://www.bloomberg.com/video/80312668-new-italian-government-europe-stock-strategy.html