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Link to The international award, promoted and supported by Associated Medias and the IQDMedias network, honors both emerging and established figures, highlighting innovation, commitment, and creativity in the fields of politics, economy, science, culture, sports, and art.The international award, promoted and supported by Associated Medias and the IQDMedias network, honors both emerging and established figures, highlighting innovation, commitment, and creativity in the fields of politics, economy, science, culture, sports, and art.
President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella has been proclaimed “Icon of the Year”, while Giorgia Meloni has been recognized as “The Most Powerful Person.” Additionally, Carlo Messina has been named “CEO of the Year,” Uljian Sharka as “Innovator of the Year,” Isabella Seragnoli as “Entrepreneur of the Year,” Emanuele Orsini as “Young Leader,” and Stefano Lucchini as “Chief Communication and Institutional Relations of the Year.”
These are the key winners of the “Talent of the Year Award (TOTY) 2024.” The editorial team of Associated Medias, in collaboration with journalists, contributors, and opinion leaders from the IQDMedias network, carefully selected the winners for this international award, which celebrates individuals who have excelled in various areas of public and social life, significantly contributing to the progress of both the nation and the global community.
The award aims to recognize both emerging and established figures, emphasizing innovation, dedication, and creativity across different fields, including politics, economy, science, culture, sports, and art. It serves as a tribute to those who, through their work, have improved society and the world around them in a variety of disciplines. The goal is not only to celebrate achievements but also to inspire new generations to pursue ideals of responsibility, passion, and dedication.
The TOTY Award 2024, as mentioned, was assigned through the work of the editorial teams of Associated Medias in collaboration with the international news websites that make up the IQDMedias network—namely Africanmedias, Worldmedias, France24heures, Franceconomique, Elmundoeconomico, Globodiplomatico, Swiss24h, Zeitungde, and Italia24h. The results of the award are therefore published simultaneously across this international network, ensuring the widest possible visibility for the prize.
Below, we present the full list of winners and finalists, category by category, along with a brief biography of the first-place recipients.
Link to Icon of the YearIcon of the Year
The President of the Republic has been awarded the title of “Icon of the Year.” Following him, the finalists in the same category included Giorgia Meloni, Paola Cortellesi, Jannik Sinner, and Paolo Sorrentino.
Born in Palermo on July 23, 1941, Sergio Mattarella comes from a family of politicians and followed in the footsteps of his father, Bernardo Mattarella, who served multiple times as a minister. His long political career led him to become Head of State in 2015. He continues to hold this position following his re-election on January 29, 2022, making him the longest-serving President in the history of the Italian Republic.
Among the most significant milestones of his career, Mattarella served as Deputy Prime Minister from October 1998 to December 1999, before being appointed Minister of Defense, a role he held until the June 2001 elections. During this period, he oversaw the abolition of mandatory military service and the establishment of the Carabinieri as an independent armed force. Under his leadership, Italy played a crucial role in UN peacekeeping missions, significantly contributing to stabilization efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Italy was also a strong advocate for the European Security and Defense Policy, supporting the creation of the first European army corps.
His high-profile career and the way he has exercised his role as President of the Republic have made Sergio Mattarella a symbol of authority, independence, competence, and institutional integrity. His long-standing leadership has had a profound impact on politics, stability, and national and international security, playing a decisive role in helping Italy and Europe navigate challenging years. For his unparalleled political and institutional contributions, his unwavering defense of constitutional values, and the deep humanity with which he has carried out his duties, Sergio Mattarella has been proclaimed the “Icon of the Year” for 2024.
Link to The most powerful person of the YearThe most powerful person of the Year
Giorgia Meloni has been recognized as the most powerful person of the year. This acknowledgment aligns with Politico, which also named her “the most powerful woman in Europe in 2024.” In our personal ranking of influential figures this year, Sergio Mattarella, Marina Berlusconi, Augusto Barbera, and Guido Crosetto also stood out.
Born in Rome in 1977, Giorgia Meloni began her political journey at just 15 years old. She founded the student coordination group “Gli Antenati” and, in 1996, became the national head of Azione Studentesca.
In 1998, at the age of 21, she was elected Councillor of the Province of Rome for Alleanza Nazionale, a position she held until 2002. From 2001 to 2004, she was part of the national governing committee of Azione Giovani, the youth movement of Alleanza Nazionale, and in 2004, she became its president.
In 2006, at 29 years old, she was elected Member of Parliament with Alleanza Nazionale in the Lazio 1 district. From 2006 to 2008, she served as Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies. In 2008, she was re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies under Il Popolo della Libertà. From May 2008 to November 2011, she held the position of Minister of Youth, becoming the youngest minister in the history of the Italian Republic at just 31 years old. She later served on both the Finance Committee and the Labor Committee of the Chamber of Deputies. In December 2012, she left Il Popolo della Libertà to co-found the political movement “Fratelli d’Italia – Centrodestra Nazionale” alongside Guido Crosetto and Ignazio La Russa.
For her historic role as Italy’s first female Prime Minister, her growing international influence, which makes her one of Europe’s key figures in diplomatic relations—including with the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump—and for her ability to enhance Italy’s global position through strategic initiatives like the “Mattei Plan” for Africa, Meloni has solidified her political weight in Brussels and successfully kept her coalition united while navigating and overcoming significant challenges in her first two years in government.
For all these reasons, Giorgia Meloni has been proclaimed the “Most Powerful Person” of the Year.
Link to CEO of the YearCEO of the Year
Carlo Messina, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Intesa Sanpaolo since September 29, 2013, has been awarded the title of “CEO of the Year.” Following him in the ranking of finalists compiled by Associated Medias are Carlo Cimbri (Unipol Group), Flavio Cattaneo (Enel), Francesco Milleri (Essilor Luxottica), and Claudio Descalzi (Eni).
After earning a degree in Economics and Business from LUISS University in Rome, Messina joined Banca Nazionale del Lavoro in 1987, where he served as Head of the Corporate Finance Office – Primary Markets and Corporate Finance Division. Alongside his professional career, he was also actively involved in academia, serving as a Lecturer in Financial Intermediation Economics within the Master in Business Administration program at LUISS Business School.
In 1992, he moved to Bonifiche Siele Finanziaria (the parent company of Banca Nazionale dell’Agricoltura), where he was appointed Head of Strategic Planning and Control. By 1996, he became Head of the Planning Office at Banco Ambrosiano Veneto, and in 2002, he joined Banca Intesa, where he was promoted to Central Director of Planning and Control.
At Intesa Sanpaolo, Messina held increasingly senior roles, becoming Central Director of Value Governance in 2007, Chief Financial Officer in 2008, and General Manager and CFO in 2012. In 2013, he assumed the role of General Manager, overseeing the Chief Financial Officer division and the Banca dei Territori division, before being appointed Managing Director and CEO in September of the same year, while maintaining his role as General Manager. Since April 2016, within the bank’s monistic governance model, he has served as CEO, General Manager, and the only executive member of the Board of Directors. He is also a Board Member and Executive Committee Member of the Italian Banking Association (ABI), a Fellow of the Foreign Policy Association in New York, a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University, and a Board Member of Bocconi University.
Under Messina’s leadership, Intesa Sanpaolo has become one of Europe’s leading banking groups, guided by vision, stability, and an increasing focus on profitability, efficiency, and sustainability. His ability to innovate and strong leadership have enabled the bank to excel and achieve outstanding results, even during periods of global economic uncertainty. Even in the past year, Intesa Sanpaolo has delivered excellent results.
For these reasons, Carlo Messina has been named “CEO of the Year.”
Link to Innovator of the YearInnovator of the Year
Uljan Sharka, founder and CEO of iGenius, the artificial intelligence company behind Crystal, the first Virtual Advisor for data intelligence, has been awarded the title of “Innovator of the Year” by Associated Medias. The recognition also highlights the ingenuity of Roberto Cingolani (Leonardo Group), Luca Ferrari (Bending Spoons), Matteo Del Fante (Poste Italiane), and Elena Grifoni Winters (Gran Sasso Science Institute).
Before founding iGenius, Sharka worked as a consultant for Apple. Today, he leads iGenius with a mission to bridge the gap between people and data, leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Machine Learning. A rising star in AI-driven innovation, Sharka has received recognition at major tech events, including Web Summit, TechCrunch Disrupt, and Startup Grind, and has been featured by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Under his leadership, iGenius was selected for Facebook Accelerate, a prestigious program for high-potential startups.
The company has also been recognized by Google as a case study within the Cloud Platform program, showcasing its advancements in Machine Learning, cloud technologies, and fast data retrieval.
Sharka’s contribution to AI innovation, particularly through the creation of iGenius and Crystal, has revolutionized the way businesses interact with data, solidifying his reputation as a pioneer in the field.
For these achievements, Uljan Sharka has been named “Innovator of the Year.”
Link to Young Leader of the YearYoung Leader of the Year
Emanuele Orsini, President of Confindustria since 2024, has been awarded the title of “Young Leader of the Year.” Also ranking in this category were Piersilvio Berlusconi, Elly Schlein, Federico Lobuono, and Vittoria Nallo.
Born in Sassuolo in 1973, Orsini began his career in 1992 after completing his secondary education, joining Sistem Costruzioni, a leading company in wood construction and industrial logistics. In 2014, he became the company’s CEO. He is also President of Maranello Residence, one of the main subsidiaries of Sistem Costruzioni. In 2020, following the passing of his father-in-law Lanfranco Fiandri, the founder of Tino Prosciutti S.p.A., he took over as President, leading the expansion of the company’s industrial site from four to five production plants by 2025 and increasing exports to new non-EU markets.
Orsini joined Confindustria’s General Council and its Technical Group for Internationalization in 2017. In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, he was appointed Vice President of Confindustria, with a focus on credit, finance, and taxation. His tenure began with efforts to develop financial and tax relief measures to support struggling businesses. In 2013, he became Vice President of UniCredit Leasing, a leading financial leasing company in Italy, and later served as President from 2018 to 2021. In 2018, he was awarded an Environmental Merit Diploma by the Minister of the Environment and Marine Protection for his numerous eco-sustainable projects, particularly in providing emergency housing solutions in the Marche region following the Central Italy earthquake.
Orsini is recognized for his innovative leadership in the industrial sector, his commitment to sustainability, and his role in revitalizing businesses during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These qualities helped him secure the challenging race for the presidency of Confindustria, marking a break from the previous administration and positioning him for the critical challenges ahead in 2025.
For these achievements, Emanuele Orsini has been named “Young Leader of the Year” for 2024.
Link to Enterpreneur of the YearEnterpreneur of the Year
Isabella Seragnoli has been recognized as Italy’s Entrepreneur of the Year 2024. Following her in the rankings are Giovanni Ferrero, Giovanna Vitelli, Guido Barilla, and Angelo Moratti.
Seragnoli joined her family’s industrial group, Coesia, at a young age. Coesia is one of the world’s largest packaging companies, producing solutions for a wide range of products, from cigarettes to cosmetics. In 2002, she took over the leadership of the company, and in 2005, she rebranded it under the Coesia name. With an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion, she is ranked as the 989th wealthiest person in Italy in 2024.
Headquartered in Bologna, Italy, Coesia is a global leader in industrial solutions and high-tech packaging. The group specializes in automated machinery, industrial process solutions, and high-performance mechanical transmissions. Seragnoli, embodying the quality, professionalism, passion, and discretion characteristic of Emilia-Romagna’s great industrial families, has transformed Coesia into a global leader in the industrial packaging sector.
Her entrepreneurial vision and ability to drive innovation have been instrumental in Coesia’s growth and international success.
For these achievements, Isabella Seragnoli has been named “Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2024.
Link to Chief Communication and institutional relations of the YearChief Communication and institutional relations of the Year
Stefano Lucchini, Chief Institutional Affairs and External Communication Officer of Intesa Sanpaolo, continues to be a leading figure in national and international communication and public relations. Other top-ranked professionals in this category include Giovanni Grasso (Presidency of the Italian Republic), Nicolò Mardegan (Enel), Stefano Amoroso (Leonardo), and Erika Mandraffino (Eni).
Born in Rome in 1962, Lucchini earned a degree in Economics from LUISS University, specializing in Financial Markets Economics under Professor Emilio Barone. He began his career in 1987 at the Research Office of Montedison. His professional journey—spanning from Confindustria to Eni—is marked by significant achievements and recognition, with the latest being his appointment in July 2024 as President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy. This non-profit institution is affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce in Washington D.C., part of a global network of 117 American Chambers of Commerce across 103 countries, representing over 3 million businesses.
Lucchini’s long and distinguished career in communication, external relations, and institutional affairs within major international organizations serves as a benchmark in Italy and abroad for professionals in the field. His intellectual depth and profound understanding of public and private institutions, combined with his exceptional professional expertise, have played a crucial role in elevating Intesa Sanpaolo, consolidating its position as Italy’s leading bank.
His broad cultural and international outlook, along with his ability to innovate and redefine the profession’s standards, makes him an undisputed leader in communication and public relations.
For these achievements, Stefano Lucchini has been named “Chief Communication and Institutional Relations Officer of the Year.”
Link to Philantropist of the YearPhilantropist of the Year
Renowned art collector Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo has been awarded the title of “Philanthropist of the Year.” Other notable figures in this category include Miuccia Prada, Renzo Rosso, Brunello Cucinelli, and Andrea Bocelli.
Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo is the founder and President of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. After earning a degree in Economics and Business from the University of Turin, she developed a deep interest in contemporary art in the early 1990s as a collector. Her passion evolved into an organized initiative in 1995, when she established the Foundation. In 1997, the first venue of the Foundation was inaugurated in Guarene, within the 18th-century Palazzo Re Rebaudengo, nestled in the hills of Piedmont, Italy.
Sandretto Re Rebaudengo also holds key leadership roles in the international art world. She is a member of the:
- International Council of MoMA (New York)
- International Council of Tate Gallery (London)
- Leadership Council of the New Museum (New York)
- Advisory Committee for Modern and Contemporary Art at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
- Cultural Council of Cartier Art Magazine
- Conseil d’Administration of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts (Lyon)
- CCS Board of Governors at Bard College (New York)
- Patronage Committee of the MACBA Foundation (Barcelona)
In Italy, she has been a member of the Technical Culture Group at Confindustria Nazionale since 2008. In 2014, she was appointed President of the Contemporary Art Foundations Committee, and in 2017, she became President of the IEO-Monzino Foundation, which oversees the European Institute of Oncology and Monzino Cardiology Center.
Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo has long been distinguished by her dedication to art and culture, investing resources and passion into the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo. Her tireless philanthropic work and support for contemporary art make her a global symbol of civic and cultural commitment.
For these reasons, Patrizia Sandretto Re Rebaudengo has been named “Philanthropist of the Year.”
Link to Creative Professional of the YearCreative Professional of the Year
Sabato De Sarno, Creative Director of Gucci, has been awarded the title of “Creative Professional of the Year.” Other finalists in this category include Gaube, Numero Cromatico, Matteo Pichi, and Mario Cucinella.
Born on March 31, 1983, Sabato De Sarno grew up in Cicciano, a town in the province of Naples. After completing high school, he moved to Milan, where he earned a degree in Women’s Fashion Design and Pattern Making from the Carlo Secoli Fashion School.
De Sarno entered the fashion industry in 2003 as an Assistant Pattern Maker at Prada. In 2006, he took on the role of Assistant Designer at Annapurna SPA, a renowned knitwear manufacturer, where he worked until 2008. That year, he became Head Designer of the Women’s Knitwear and Jersey Collection at Dolce&Gabbana.
His breakthrough came in 2009, when he moved to Rome to join Valentino, marking the start of a 14-year career with the luxury brand. Over the years, he held various leadership positions, ultimately becoming Fashion Director of Men’s and Women’s Ready-to-Wear Collections in 2020.
In January 2023, De Sarno was appointed Creative Director of Gucci, a role that has positioned him as a global leader in fashion innovation. His long and distinguished career, combined with his ability to redefine Gucci’s image with freshness and creativity, reinforces Italy’s legacy of launching world-class talent in fashion.
For these reasons, Sabato De Sarno has been named “Creative Professional of the Year.”
Link to CFO of the YearCFO of the Year
The Associated Medias editorial team has selected Luca Bocca as “CFO of the Year,” recognizing his outstanding contributions as Chief Financial Officer of Intesa Sanpaolo, a position he has held since April 1, 2024. Other finalists in this category include Alessandra Genco (Leonardo Group), Stefano De Angelis (Enel), Luca Zaccherini (Unipol Group), and Chiara Maruccio (SACE).
Bocca earned a degree in Economics of Institutions and Financial Markets from Università Cattolica di Milano. He began his career in 2001 at Banca Intesa as a Financial Controller, later moving to the Business Plan Office for strategic planning. In 2008, he became Head of this unit, playing a key role in developing several Group Business Plans. By 2013, he was appointed Head of the Group Planning Department.
In 2014, Bocca joined the newly formed Capital Light Bank, the Group’s unit focused on risk deleveraging, as Head of the Planning and Control Department. During this time, he founded the Controlling Division to support NPL recovery efforts and played a pivotal role in the spin-off operation that led to the transfer of the platform to Intrum. He currently serves as a Board Member of Intrum Italy.
In 2018, Bocca became Executive Director of the Group Planning and Control Head Office Department, directly reporting to the Group CFO. In 2023, he was promoted to Deputy CFO, before assuming his current role as CFO of Intesa Sanpaolo in 2024.
Beyond finance, Bocca is passionate about sports, drawing on teamwork principles learned as a former basketball player and coach to guide his professional career.
Luca Bocca’s career has been marked by financial excellence and an innovative approach to banking. His commitment to restructuring and risk management has strengthened Intesa Sanpaolo’s stability and success.
For these achievements, Luca Bocca has been named “CFO of the Year.”
(Associated Medias) – All rights reserved
L'articolo TOTY Award 2024: Mattarella Named “Icon of the Year,” Meloni the Most Powerful. Carlo Messina CEO of the Year proviene da Associated Medias.
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