The Board of Directors of Luiss Guido Carli has named Vincenzo Manes a 2023 Luiss Alumnus. Manes is the Executive Chairman of KME Group and the Chairman and Founder of the Dynamo-Camp Foundation. In 2013, he was named a Cavaliere del Lavoro.

“It is with immense honor and gratitude that I receive this recognition from Luiss. On the one hand, it represents an opportunity to renew my bond with my alma mater, and on the other, it is a chance to embark on a new and stimulating adventure of giving back as an alumnus, together with the Luiss Alumni Network. I am delighted to collaborate with the university in promoting the value of solidarity among students, as well as fostering a new civic culture in society for the conscious care of the common good.  I already honed my skills in these areas while at university, and I’m truly proud of the leadership that Luiss has achieved, including on the international stage,” said Vincenzo Manes.

Vincenzo Manes graduated with honors in Economics and Business from Luiss Guido Carli in 1984 and began his career in private equity, where he has become one of Italy's leading figures. He is the principal shareholder and Executive Chairman of KME Group S.p.A., one of the world's leading manufacturers of copper and copper alloy products. He is a shareholder of Culti S.p.A., Ducati Energia, il Post, and Vita Editoriale. He serves on the boards of directors for Tod's Group and Class Editori.

Over the years, he has complemented his entrepreneurial activities with philanthropic endeavors. He founded the Dynamo Foundation – Motore di Filantropia, a group of social organizations with diverse missions and sectors. This includes the Dynamo-Camp Foundation, which since 2007 has provided Recreational Therapy programs to over 90,000 people, including children with serious and chronic conditions, and supported their families. Each year, Dynamo-Camp employs over 200 people and collaborates with more than 2,000 volunteers. Over the years, he has received numerous awards and honors for his commitment: since 2012, he has been a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic; in 2016, he received the Special Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy Italy Award for Human Rights; in 2017, he was awarded the Dedalo Minosse International Prize for Architectural Patronage – Cittadellarte Special Prize – Pistoletto Foundation; That same year, he was awarded the first Burgio Prize “Dalla parte dei bambini,” established by the Pavia School of Pediatrics and the University of Pavia in collaboration with the Policlinico San Matteo Foundation. In 2020, he won the second “Eugenio Aringhieri” Prize, established by the Rare Diseases Observatory.

Vincenzo Manes also served as a pro bono advisor to the Italian government on the third sector and the development of the social economy. In this role, he spearheaded the creation of Fondazione Italia Sociale, of which he is President. Established under Law 106/2016, the foundation aims to provide financial resources and management expertise to support the implementation and development of innovative initiatives by third-sector organizations. He also serves on the boards of Directors for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Italy Foundation and the Adriano Olivetti Foundation.

At Luiss, he is a tenured professor for the course “Becivic: For a New Civic Culture” and a member of the LA4G Project – Luiss Alumni for Growth, the university’s investment club that invests in Luiss-related startups founded or co-founded by Luiss graduates, with a “benefit” and “give back” approach. 

“Vincenzo Manes’ entrepreneurial skills and commitment to the third sector make his work a virtuous example for our entire university community. His ability to turn innovative ideas into concrete projects and his dedication to improving the lives of the most vulnerable make him a role model and a source of pride for the entire Luiss community,”commented President Vincenzo Boccia.

Daniele Pelli, President of the Luiss Alumni Network (LAN), added: “We are confident that, with his profile as a true civil servant, Vincenzo Manes will continue to inspire the entire Luiss community and all our Alumni, as his ethical and social commitment fully reflects the values of our University’s educational model.”  Enzo’s example and active commitment represent a valuable contribution to addressing the challenge of giving back, which is one of LAN’s strategic objectives.”

The prestigious Alumnus of the Year award is given to a former student who has achieved significant milestones, chosen from among the more than 58,000 alumni worldwide. Today, the Luiss Alumni network boasts international chapters across Europe, North and South America, Asia, and the Middle East. These chapters serve as hubs for connection, discussion, and exchange, enabling all graduates to share personal and professional experiences with an open, innovative, and global mindset.

In previous years, the award went to: Marcella Panucci in 2022; Patrizia Micucci in 2021; Fabio Panetta in 2019; Riccardo Zacconi in 2018; Marco Morelli in 2017; Luca Maestri in 2016; and Carlo Messina in 2015.