Gianfelice Rocca
Gianfelice Mario Rocca | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 2, 1948 Italy |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Chairman of Techint Group and Istituto Clinico Humanitas |
Gianfelice Mario Rocca (born 2 March 1948) is an Italian billionaire entrepreneur, serving as chairman of both the Techint Group and Istituto Clinico Humanitas.
Education
Rocca earned a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Milan and completed a PMD program at Harvard Business School in Boston.
Career
Beginning his tenure with the Techint Group in 1974, Rocca advanced to lead corporate operations across Italy, Europe, and Mexico by 1980. He has held the position of chairman since 1997.
The Techint Group encompasses companies such as Tenaris, Ternium, Techint Engineering & Construction, Tenova, Tecpetrol, and Humanitas. In 2018, the group employed approximately 57,100 individuals and generated revenues totaling US$23.5 billion.
During the 1990s, Rocca established Istituto Clinico Humanitas in Rozzano near Milan. This institution has grown into a prominent European hospital featuring an international center for research and education. This initiative marked Techint’s venture into healthcare, which expanded further through acquisitions managed by Humanitas S.p.A. In 2010, Humanitas launched an International Medical School taught in English in collaboration with Università degli Studi di Milano.
Both Humanitas and Tenova have been subjects of case studies at Harvard Business School.
In July 2014, Humanitas University was founded to provide education in life sciences closely integrated with IRCCS Istituto Clinico Humanitas, where Rocca serves as president.
Rocca held the presidency of Assolombarda from 2013 to 2017 and was vice-president responsible for education at Confindustria between 2004 and 2012. He served on the Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) from 2012 until 2016. Additionally, he is an honorary member of the Italian Institute of Technology and a member of the Scientific Committee at Foundation Politecnico di Milan.
Since November 2014, Rocca has been part of the management board at Luigi Bocconi University. He also holds board positions with Brembo SPA, Buzzi Unicem SpA, and Fondazione Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci.
On an international level, Rocca participates in organizations such as the Trilateral Commission, Harvard Business School’s European Advisory Board, the executive committee of the Aspen Institute (where he is vice-president of Aspen Institute Italia), the European Round Table of Industrialists, and serves on the International Advisory Board for the Cancer Center at Beth Israel Medical Center.
In June 2020, he was appointed Special Advisor for Life Sciences at Confindustria.
Appointments
Between June 2013 and June 2017, Rocca acted as President of Assolombarda, Italy’s largest regional business association representing around 5,100 companies in Lombardy and affiliated with Confindustria. From May 2004 to May 2012, he was vice president for Education at Confindustria, Italy’s principal industrial federation. He also served on the Governing Board of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) from June 2012 to June 2016. Presently, Rocca holds honorary membership at the Italian Institute of Technology and contributes to the Scientific Committee of Foundation Politecnico di Milan. Since November 2014, he has been a member of Luigi Bocconi University’s management board and joined LUISS University’s board in September 2016.
Within Italy, Rocca sits on boards including Allianz, Brembo, and Buzzi Unicem.
Globally, he is affiliated with groups such as the Trilateral Commission, Harvard Business School's European Advisory Board, Aspen Institute’s executive committee, Allianz Group Advisory Board, and since July 2017 serves on the Board of Directors for Fondazione Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci. Furthermore, he is active in the European Round Table of Industrialists and advises on the International Advisory Board for Beth Israel Medical Center’s Cancer Center.
Social activities
Gianfelice Rocca leads the Rocca Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting social and educational projects worldwide. In tribute to his father, the foundation initiated the "Progetto Roberto Rocca" in 2005, which promotes academic collaboration between MIT and Milan Politecnico by facilitating graduate and postdoctoral exchanges.
Honours
Rocca was awarded the title of Cavaliere del Lavoro in 2007. Two years later, Milan Politecnico conferred upon him an honorary doctorate in Management Engineering. That same year, President Giorgio Napolitano honored him with the Leonardo Award for his role in enhancing Italy's global reputation in steel production, energy, and infrastructure sectors. In 2018, he received the "Commendatore" distinction from President Sergio Mattarella in recognition of his significant economic impact on Italy. As of September 2020, Rocca holds membership in the Italian Aspen Institute.
Other interests
A passionate yachtsman and mountaineer, Rocca became part of the "Ragni di Lecco" expedition in 1970 to explore Cerro Torre located in Patagonia, renowned as one of the most demanding climbs worldwide. This involvement played a key role in the group's successful summit in 1974 and initiated Gianfelice Rocca's long-term connection with the team. In 2007, an expedition was planned to ascend a previously unclimbed face of Cerro Piergiorgio to honor Agostino Rocca, brother to Gianfelice and Paolo, who passed away in 2001. The following year, mountaineers Christian Brenna and Hervè Barmasse achieved the first ascent of Piergiorgio’s north face, dedicating it as La Routa de l'Hermano in memory of Agostino Rocca. Gianfelice Rocca was granted honorary membership in the "Ragni di Lecco" group in 2011.
Personal life
Gianfelice Rocca lives in Milan with his spouse and their two children.