President, Bocconi University

Mario Monti was a member of the European Commission for ten years, first in charge of the Internal Market, financial services and tax policy (1995-1999) then of Competition (1999-2004). He was the founding chairman of Bruegel, the European economic policy think-tank, Brussels (2005-2008).

Born in Varese in 1943, he graduated in economics and management from Bocconi University in 1965. After graduate studies at Yale University, he taught at the Universities of Trento and Turin. He later returned to Bocconi as professor of economics, director of the Institute of Economics, founding chairman of the Paolo Baffi Center, founding chairman of IGIER, rector and, since 1994, president of the University.

Professor Monti’s publications concern in particular monetary and financial economics, public finance, European integration and competition. He served as chairman of the Treasury Committee on the Italian credit system, member of the Ministry of Industry Committee to draft Italy’s first competition law, member of the Committee chaired by Eric Roll on the independence of the Bank of England.

Professor Monti is a regular contributor to Corriere della Sera and serves as an international advisor to Goldman Sachs. He is currently a member of the Commission pour la libération de la croissance française created by French President Nicolas Sarkozy and chaired by Jacques Attali, as well as the EU Coordinator for the trans-european project on the electricity interconnection between France and Spain, nominated by the European Commission. He is also a member of the international advisory board of The Coca Cola Company and a member of the Senior European advisory board of Moody’s.