Opinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own.
Italy is known for its luxury goods and fine products, but in recent years, it has faced challenges in maintaining its position in the global market. However, a number of individuals across various sectors are playing crucial roles in helping the country adapt and move forward. From fashion and finance to digital consulting and healthcare, these professionals are contributing to Italy’s economic recovery and transformation. Their work reflects a broader effort to evolve Italy’s economy and navigate its shifting landscape. The following profiles highlight five key figures who are helping to shape Italy’s economic future.
Anton Giulio Grande
For over twenty-five years, Anton Giulio Grande has been an established figure in Italian haute couture. Originally from Lamezia Terme, he left his hometown at just 17 to study at Polimoda in Florence and later at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. At only 23, he launched his label and began showcasing collections worldwide, starting with the iconic Donna sotto le Stelle runway in Rome’s Piazza di Spagna.
Known for designs that incorporate sensuality, elegance, intricate embroidery, and luxury, Grande has dressed notable women in entertainment and cinema. Passionate about art and literature, his creations have graced red carpets, magazine covers, and even museum exhibitions.
His work has been admired at national and international Fashion Weeks, most recently at Milano Fashion Week, where he is a recurring presence. Grande has received several awards recognizing his style and cultural contributions. He is recognized for his contribution to the Made in Italy tradition, with garments crafted in Italian ateliers.
He also teaches fashion and art at various universities, and his couture has often been the subject of academic theses. Today, he serves as President of the Calabria Film Commission, promoting the region through cinema and television. He was recently awarded the “Parole Aperte” Prize at the Vatican for his contribution to fashion and culture. Grande has also been appointed to the Interuniversity Council of Cultural, Architectural, Landscape, Environmental, and Tourism Heritage of the Humanitas University Consortium.
Andrea Bertoni
Andrea Bertoni was named among Forbes’ Top 100 Managers and leads Davis & Morgan, an investment bank focused on the acquisition and management of distressed assets. Today, he is one of the key players in Italy’s NPL (non-performing loan) sector.
Among his bank’s shareholders are the Oetker family, famous in Europe for owning the Hero jam brand, among others. Bertoni has led major turnaround deals, including the Gucci penthouse in San Babila and the sale of Franco Mare, now known as Vesta Beach, to the Del Vecchio family. In both cases, he acquired distressed debt from banks and successfully revived the businesses.
His industrial group includes Bertoni Costruzioni, real estate companies, and a fintech vertical. His latest development is the app @assetfinding, which uses artificial intelligence and proprietary algorithms to facilitate the buying and selling of NPLs, providing wider access to a previously complex financial asset class.
With a love for fashion, Bertoni regularly attends Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks and has a social media following of over 1.3 million followers on Instagram.
Aldo Corbo
Aldo Corbo, founder of Centro Dentale CORBO, was born in a small town in Agrigento, Sicily. In 2006, after regulatory changes liberalized the dental sector in Italy, he was among the first entrepreneurs to reshape the dental business model.
With rising costs that forced many Italians to seek treatment abroad, Corbo restructured his business model by producing dental implants in-house and negotiating directly with suppliers. This helped reduce costs and attract international patients to his central clinic in Sicily.
Today, he has formed partnerships with clinics across Italy, expanded into major cities, and addressed the growing demand for his services.
Domenico Ferraro
For Domenico Ferraro, high-end watchmaking has always been more than a passion — it’s a calling. In 2010, he launched D. & E. Luxury Watches, which focused on the trade and appreciation of luxury timepieces.
In 2017, he expanded with an in-house service lab, further elevating the brand’s reputation. Ferraro has been an advocate for combating counterfeiting in the luxury watch world, building a reputation for authenticity and trust.
The company is now opening a new 500 sqm headquarters in Campania, featuring a 400 sqm private laboratory, which is set to become one of the largest in Europe. The expansion will add over 20 specialized employees, further establishing D. & E.’s position in the high-end horology market, blending tradition and innovation.
Paolo Bonetti
Paolo Bonetti is a well-known figure in the field of integrated digital consulting. Born in 1985, he is an engineer, entrepreneur, and innovator with one mission: turning digital tools into fundamental growth drivers for businesses.
Raised in a family where art met entrepreneurship, Bonetti developed a unique perspective early on. His mother, a painter, shaped his creative sensitivity, while his father, a consultant, instilled business rigor. His sister, who runs a successful ad agency, further influenced his path as he immersed himself in digital strategy.
Over time, he founded or co-founded a cluster of synergistic companies, offering clients a single point of reference for everything digital—from strategy to execution. Hybrid Digital Consultancy, the group’s orchestrator, offers elite in-house talent in digital strategy, ADV, performance marketing, and business intelligence, and Akuna Matata, a national agency founded by his sister in 2001. Other creative endeavors include: Becreatives, specializing in proprietary tech development and consulting; Chupito, focusing on viral edutainment video production; Meeting Hub, a leading platform for event venue booking; and Slesh, a company that is revolutionizing the event industry with cashless NFC tech for festivals and entertainment.
With over 100 digital professionals on his team, Bonetti continues to develop solutions that are both innovative and focused on supporting businesses in an increasingly complex digital environment.
Italy is known for its luxury goods and fine products, but it has recently experienced a decline in the global market, attributed to broader macroeconomic trends rather than the country’s style quality. However, these five industry leaders are contributing to efforts that may help Italy regain its position in the global market. These leaders recognize the importance of transitioning to a digital economy and are using their expertise to help Italy move into its next economic phase.
