Riccardo Perissich Joins APCO Worldwide
Former Pirelli Telecom Italia, EU Commission executive brings unique public affairs expertise
Rome, (May 15, 2008) – Riccardo Perissich, former public and economic affairs director of Pirelli Telecom Italia Group, has joined APCO Worldwide as senior counselor, Nicola Raffa, managing director of APCO’s Rome office, announced today.
“Perissich is an outstanding addition to the APCO team. He brings a unique mix of international public affairs expertise and profound insight into EU policy-making,” said Raffa. “Our clients will benefit from the depth of his hands-on experience of complex political and economic matters, as well as his understanding of European issues after spending nearly a quarter of a decade in various offices within the European Commission.”
Perissich began his career with the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, where he quickly came to serve as deputy director of the institute before moving to the European Commission in 1970. After holding the office of “chef de cabinet” for four members of the Commission, he became in 1986 deputy director-general of DG Internal Market and Industrial Affairs. In that position, he coordinated the Single Market program for the European Commission. In 1990, Perissich became the director-general for industry, a position which he held up until his transition to Pirelli SpA in 1994.
During his 12 years in Pirelli SpA, Perissich served as director of public affairs and was a member of the Board of Directors until 2001. He then moved to Telecom Italia Group where he served as director of the central public and economic affairs function as well as being a member of the Board of Directors of Telecom Italia Mobile SpA and chairman of Telecom Italia Media.
“I am very happy to collaborate with APCO Worldwide,” said Perissich. “The company offers clients a unique portfolio of services, delivered by an impressive network of professionals, who are capable of addressing the issues lying at the very heart of the international business environment.”
Until his resignation from Pirelli and Telecom Italia, Perissich was a distinguished member of Confindustria and of Assolombarda’s executive committee, a member of Assonime’s chairman committee, a vice-chairman of Unione Industriali e delle Imprese di Roma, of Assoimmobiliare and of the Radio and TV Federation, and a member of the Board of the Enciclopedia Treccani. He is also a member of ISPI, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (London), of the Istituto Affari Internazionali (Rome) and of the Aspen Institute Italy.
About APCO Worldwide
Founded in 1984, APCO Worldwide is an independently owned global communication consultancy with offices in major cities throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. APCO was named 2006 Agency of the Year by PRWeek, 2007, 2006 and 2005 European Consultancy of the Year by Public Affairs News and 2004 Public Affairs Agency of the Year by The Holmes Report. Clients include corporations, governments, industry associations and nonprofit organizations. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO includes among its clients seven of the top 10 companies on Fortune’s Global 500. Core services include corporate, investor and internal communication; crisis management; issue management; government relations; litigation communication; media relations; coalition building; opinion research; market entry; corporate responsibility and online communication. APCO is a majority women-owned business. For more information, please visit www.apcoworldwide.com
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Contacts:
Natacha Dalcorso
+44.207.526.3663
ndalcorso@apcoworldwide.com