Active in the music and creative industries since 1990, I am a senior consultant, manager, and educator with over three decades of experience driving innovation across the cultural, music, and social ecosystems. My work spans festival curation, internationalization strategies, social entrepreneurship, European project leadership, higher education, and cultural welfare. In 2026, I returned to my hometown, Bari, to pursue my long-standing vision of establishing a local center for music innovation.
1. Music Industry Innovation, Festivals & Platform Development
Pioneering formats that connect music ecosystems, industry professionals, and communities:
- Linecheck Music Meeting & Festival (2015–2025): Founded during Milan Expo 2015 and operationalized under Music Innovation Hub as Italy’s primary international networking platform and music conference.
- Festival Direction & Management: Founded/curated major cultural and music events including Elettrowave (Arezzo Wave, 1999–2008), Open Sound Festival (Matera 2019 Foundation), Heroes Festival, Yellow Party (Meltin Pot), and the newly launched Ascolto (a community music festival in Bari, 2025).
- Sector Ecosystem Building: Founded Italian Quality Music Festivals (now Italia Music Lab / IMF) in 2015 to connect 18 contemporary music festivals nationwide, and co-founded the Federation of Music Conferences in 2022 alongside international partners.
- Arezzo Wave Collaboration (1996–2011): 15-year tenure managing regional operations in Puglia and curating national club culture initiatives.
2. Executive Leadership, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Hubs
Building organizations, managing teams, and developing strategic partnerships:
- Music Innovation Hub (2018–2025): Served as General Manager, operationalizing key assets such as Linecheck, Music Rooms at BASE Milano, and leading crisis-relief initiatives during the pandemic (Sosteniamo La Musica with Spotify and Fondazione Cariplo, and Scena Unita with Cesvi and La Musica Che Gira).
- Elita & Elita Company (2005–2015): Founded and directed the cultural association and company, producing groundbreaking urban formats including Design Week Festival, Milano Design Awards, Sunday Park, and Smart Weekend.
- Corporate & Brand Consulting: Strategic consultant and content producer for major global brands including Nike, Red Bull, Luxottica, Vans, Peroni, Campari, and leading communication agencies.
- Early Career & Corporate PR: Managed corporate PR, brand activations, and large-scale events for agencies such as Ideogramma/Ideocomunicazione (2000) and Meltin Pot (2001–2002).
3. European Projects, Cultural Welfare & Public Sector Affairs
A lifelong commitment to EU values, cross-sectoral collaboration, and social impact through culture:
- European Union Projects & Boards: Involved in EU-funded programs since 1991 (starting with Youth for Europe). Co-founder and international board member for landmark EU projects including Keychange, Jump – European Music Market Accelerator, Creative Shift, Music Tech Europe Academy, and C3-Well. Coordinated NIMPE for Assomusica (2017).
- Music Moves Europe: Actively involved in managing the Music Moves Europe Dialogues consortium on behalf of the European Commission—a 5-year flagship initiative innovating the European music ecosystem.
- Cultural Welfare & Public Administration: Senior Consultant for Distretto Puglia Creativa leading Cultural Welfare initiatives; consultant for the Comune di Bari on the Santomare community activation project.
- Social Economy & Youth Inclusion: Founded FARM (1998)—the first type-B social cooperative in the entertainment sector—and managed social projects including Informa, Informagiovani, and Informadonna (1997–1999).
4. Higher Education, Academic Coordination & Mentorship
Designing curricula and training the next generation of creative industry leaders:
- SAE Institute Milan (2019–2025): Lecturer in Music Business and designer of the entire MBM (Music Business & Management) course curriculum.
- CERM – Centro Europeo Ricerche Musicali (Present): Course Coordinator and Senior Consultant for the Music Business and Management program.
- IED MILANO (2012–2024): Lecturer for the Event Organization course within the Communication Department.
- Industry Conventions: Co-created IF Italians Festival (2014–2015) alongside Assocom (now UNA) and ADCI, celebrating advertising and communication excellence in Italy.