Charles Calenda

Speaker - Biography

Carlo Calenda is an Italian business executive and politician. A law graduate, he began his career in finance and industry, holding executive positions in companies such as Ferrari and Sky Italia, and playing a leading role in Confindustria as head of International Affairs. He entered politics in 2013 as Deputy Minister of Economic Development, then served as Permanent Representative of Italy to the European Union and Minister of Economic Development in the Renzi and Gentiloni governments, promoting among other things the "Industry 4.0" plan. A Europarliamentarian since 2019, he founded the same year the Azione party, of which he is secretary. He is currently a Senator of the Republic and one of the leading voices of liberal and pro-European reformism in Italy.