Alessandro Profumo is an Italian manager who had significant influence in the consolidation of the Italian banking sector. As a representative of the share holder value based management approach he is considered to be ambitious. He worked as a consultant at McKinsey and, when CEO of Unicredit, he was involved in the merger with HypoVereinsbank, Bank Austria Creditanstalt and Capitalia with the UniCredit Group. He resigned as CEO of the Unicredit Group on 21 September 2010.
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Alessandro Profumo was born in Genoa on 17 February 1957 as the youngest of five children. He grew up in Palermo; 1970 he moved to Milano with his parents where he went to the Liceo Manzoni and met his wife Sabina Ratti – they were in the same class.
After finishing highschool, Profumo enrolled in Bocconi University to study business administration.
In 1977, he married Sabina, and his only son Marco was born the same year. Profumo dropped out of college and started his professional career at Banco Lariano – his initial salary amounted to 377,000 Italian Lire. Within ten years he climbed up the job ladder and became branch manager. In 1987, Profumo finished his studies in business administration in a few months – writing his thesis during the nights. By December of the same year he joined McKinsey, where he acted as a consultant to financial institutions.
1989 Profumo changes to the Bain, Cuneo & Associati consultancy. 1991 he left the consultant path and was appointed to General Manager of the banking and financial sector at RAS, Riunione Adriatica di Sicurtà. 1994 he becomes Deputy General Manager of Credito Italiano was responsible for strategy and controlling. 1995 he was appointed to Chief General Manager. On 29. April 1997 the UniCredit group was formed of which Profumo became Chief Executive Officer. On 21 September 2010 resigned the charge of CEO.
Since 1998 when UniCredit Group arose from “Credito Italiano” he has acted as its CEO. By December 2005 he was appointed to chairman of the supervisory board of HVB.
Alessandro Profumo’s activities by the end of 2006 included:
Member of international organisations:
Alessandro Profumo has written several articles and studies. In 2003 he published together with Giovanni Moro the book „Plus Valori“, addressing the „social responsibility of companies“
2004 Alessandro Profumo was invested as Cavaliere al Merito del Lavoro of the Repubblica Italiana. Only a few economic personalities have received this award so far.