Corrado Passera

Corrado Passera is an Italian entrepreneur, manager and banker, and a former Minister, with extensive leadership experience in both the private and public sectors.

Early Career
He began his career at McKinsey & Co. in 1980, focusing on the restructuring of financial institutions and service companies across Europe. In 1985, he joined CIR (De Benedetti Group), becoming General Manager and later CEO of L'Espresso-Repubblica, which he successfully led to a stock market listing.

Olivetti and Telecommunications
In 1992, he became co-CEO of Olivetti, driving its transition from IT to telecommunications and
contributing to the creation of Omnitel, Infostrada and Italia On Line.

Banking Consolidation
In 1996, as CEO of Banco Ambroveneto, he strengthened its profitability and led its merger with Cariplo, giving rise to Banca Intesa.

Poste Italiane
From 1998 to 2002, he led the turnaround of the company, restoring it to profitability through a deep operational and innovative transformation.

Intesa Sanpaolo
He later became CEO of Intesa and in 2006 led the merger with Sanpaolo IMI, creating one of Europe's leading banking groups.

Government Service
In 2011, he served as Minister of Economic Development, Infrastructure and Transport in the Monti government.

illimity
In 2018, he founded illimity, a technology-driven bank focused on SMEs, serving as CEO until
September 2025, when it was acquired by Banca IFIS.

Boards and Cultural Initiatives
Since 2018, he has chaired the Fondazione Accademia Internazionale di Imola “Incontri col Maestro” ETS, one of the most prestigious academies for advanced music training. As of April 2026, Passera is a member of the Board of Directors of MPS – Banca Monte dei Paschi di
Siena.

Passera has served on numerous boards of directors and advisory boards, including Finmeccanica (now Leonardo), Crédit Agricole, the Executive Committee of the Italian Banking Association, the World Economic Forum’s International Business Council, McKinsey’s International Advisory Council, Bocconi University, La Scala Theatre, the International Institute of Finance, the Wharton School
Advisory Board and Assonime (Vice Chairman).
In 2010, he co-founded Encyclomedia Publishers with Umberto Eco, creating the first digital history of European civilization, also presented at the United Nations in New York.

Education
He holds a degree in Business Administration from Bocconi University and an MBA from the WhartonSchool.