The University's Executive Committee—comprising President Vincenzo Boccia, Vice President Paola Severino, Rector Andrea Prencipe, Director General Giovanni Lo Storto, and Councilor Giovanni Brugnoli—has appointed Fabio Panetta, a member of the Executive Board of the ECB, former Director General of the Bank of Italy, and a 2019 Luiss alumnus, based on a proposal from the President of the Alumni Association, Andrea Battista. Since 2015, the vast community of Luiss graduates worldwide—now over 40,000 professionals across five continents—has been honoring an alumnus or alumna who has made a particularly distinguished contribution. This year, the award will be presented next February by ALL President Andrea Battista during the now traditional Award Ceremony. In addition to all the University's leadership, the event will be attended by numerous guests and representatives from various institutions.

“The Executive Committee has decided to honor Fabio Panetta as Alumnus of the Year. He has established himself in top roles both nationally and internationally, and is a source of great pride for Luiss and for the entire country. “Panetta is the perfect example of an Italy that excels globally through commitment and expertise, accepting responsibilities and putting them at the service of the common good within a framework of values that honors our university,” said Luiss President Vincenzo Boccia.

In congratulating the Alumnus of the Year 2019 on behalf of the entire Luiss graduate community, ALL President Andrea Battista added: “Fabio Panetta is another example of how our university contributes in a multifaceted way and can increasingly help shape and develop our country's leadership at the highest national and international levels, both in the private sector and in public service.”

After graduating with honors in Economics from the Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali in 1982 with a thesis on Financial Mathematics, Panetta continued his studies, earning a Master of Science in Economics from the LSE and a Ph.D. in Economics and Finance from the London Business School. From 2003 to January 2019, he served on the Committee on the Global Financial System. From 2016 to 2018, he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements. He was also a member of the Supervisory Board of the Single Supervisory Mechanism at the European Central Bank from 2014 to July 2019. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation of the International Center for Monetary and Banking Studies (ICMB) in Geneva, the Governing Council of the Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF), and the Italian Society of Economists, the American Finance Association, and the American Economic Association. Since May 2019, he has served as the Director General of the Bank of Italy and the President of the Institute for the Supervision of Insurance (IVASS). Since January 2020, he has been a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank.

“I am honored to receive this award. My university, both in the past and today, plays a crucial role in training managers, professionals, and public leaders who share common values focused on social and economic development. Building a better future while also taking pride in one's education: this must remain the mission of Luiss Alumni,” commented Fabio Panetta.

The winners of previous editions were: Riccardo Zacconi in 2018, Marco Morelli in 2017, Luca Maestri in 2016, and Carlo Messina in 2015.

The Luiss Alumni Association, founded over thirty years ago and initially established in Italy, in Rome and Milan, now has a global presence with international chapters in Brussels, Dublin, London, New York, Paris, Tel Aviv, and Shanghai. The Association serves as a key resource for graduates entering the workforce, offering professional development and a network of qualified individuals. This enables former students of the University to cultivate a sense of belonging and to develop ideas, values, and knowledge through a network of over 40,000 alumni across five continents.