0100 Conference Mediterranean 2024

Born in Milan in 1958, Giuseppe Sala holds a degree in Economics and Business from Bocconi University. He has held leadership positions in major international companies, starting with Pirelli and Telecom Italia. In 2009, he was appointed General Director of the Municipality of Milan, and in June 2010, he became the CEO of Expo 2015 S.p.A. In May 2013, he was further appointed as the Government’s Sole Commissioner for Expo Milano 2015, a role he held simultaneously with that of CEO. His love for Milan and the belief that he could contribute to making the city more just, international, and welcoming led him to dedicate himself to politics. Since June 2016, he has served as the Mayor of Milan. He is the author of several books: Milano sull’acqua. Ieri, oggi, domani (2014), Milano e il secolo delle città (2018), Società per azioni (2020), and Lettere dalle Città del futuro: costruiamo oggi il mondo di domani (2021).

Luigi Tommasini is a Senior Partner of Fondo Italiano d’Investimento SGR SpA. He is Head of the Funds of Funds, Co-Head of Co-Investments and Head of Strategic Initiatives. He joined Fondo Italiano in 2010 for the development of the funds of funds platform which today counts more than two billion Euro of assets raised in private equity, private debt, venture capital and impact funds. These initiatives have contributed to strengthening the capital aimed at fostering the growth of Italian companies. In 2023, leveraging on Fondo Italiano’s positioning in the market, he supported the promotion of and co-heads the co-investment strategy. Before joining Fondo Italiano he worked for AXA Private Equity (now Ardian) in their London office managing investments in primary and secondary transactions. He also worked for Apax Partner (London and Milan) and began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey&Company in Milan, São Paolo (Brazil) and San Francisco (USA). Luigi graduated with honours from Bocconi University and obtained an MBA (Palmer Scholar) from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in International Studies (with honours) from the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania.

At EIF since 2009, Marco is heading the team responsible for equity investments in European funds focused on Sustainable Growth, including strategies oriented towards circularity, climate and energy transition, digital transformation and investments in sectors which are strategic for the European economy. Marco coordinates the investment activity for the AMUF European Private Equity compartment and for several fund-of-funds initiatives, with specific thematic or geographical scope, (e.g. Turkey, Poland, Baltics, Central Europe, Italy, Portugal). He represents EIF on the Advisory Boards of several funds. Prior to EIF, he worked in direct investments, in an Early Stage VC fund, and in management consulting. Marco holds a M.S. degree in Industrial Engineering and Management.

Matteo Riccardi is the Chief Investment Officer for the Italian Insurance Banco BPM Vita (part of the banking group Banco BPM) since 2017. He approached the insurance investment management sector in 2004, joining the Italian Business Unit of Zurich Insurance Group, where he worked for 13 years serving as Chief Investment Officer for Italy from 2014 to 2017 and, before that, as Head of Securities Investment and ALM senior analyst. Prior to this experience, he worked in the Risk Management Department of Eptafund Sgr (now part of Eurizon Capital) in Milan and in Dublin for three years. Matteo graduated from Bocconi University in Finance and Financial Management Services in 1999, he is CFA Charterholder since 2004 (member of the Board of CFA Society Italy since 2011 and Vice-President since 2017) and he has also achieved the CIPM, CAIA, FDP, FRM and CIIA designations.

Mattias focuses on the European primary portfolio and is involved in the sourcing, screening, execution, monitoring, and exiting of growth and buyout co-investments. Prior to joining Adams Street Partners, he was a Managing Director in the Private Equity Advisory & Asset Management division of the StepStone Group where he led European primary, secondary, and co-investments. Previously, he was a Principal in the Private Equity Secondaries group of Greenpark Capital, as well as a Private Equity Analyst at Lehman Brothers. He was also a Sergeant with the Amphibious Battalion of the Swedish Marines. Mattias is a member of Adams Street’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Committee.

Martino Mauroner serves as Head of Private Debt in Italy, having arranged more than 10 transactions since he joined Tikehau Capital in 2019. Prior to that, Martino spent 15 years in leveraged and corporate finance within main Italian banks, most of which at Crédit Agricole, leading and executing several debt transactions. Martino started his career in 2005 after receiving a MSc in Corporate Finance from Bocconi University

Kirsten joined Octopus Ventures in 2021 to launch First Cheque Fund, its first dedicated pre-seed fund. Before joining Octopus Ventures, Kirsten was the managing director of CyLon, Europe’s first deep tech and cyber security accelerator programme investing in and supporting more than 60 startups, including Tessian and Immersive Labs. Kirsten was also part of the original team at Seedcamp Investment Management. During her five-year tenure, she travelled extensively across Europe meeting the best local entrepreneurs and backed some of Europe’s trailblazers, such as Wise, UiPath and Revolut. Before launching First Cheque Fund, Kirsten dabbled as an angel investor and enjoys nothing more than helping founders on their growth journey.

Matt is an Investment Director at VenCap and leads the secondary strategy. Having started his career in corporate finance, over the last decade he has built extensive experience in the secondary market having led investments in numerous GP & LP-led secondary transactions. Matt has also completed a number of co-investments and primary commitments over the years. VenCap is an Oxford-based fund-of-funds with over three decades of VC experience.