July 23, 2008

Vittorio Volpi recognized in Cuggiono

Vittorio Volpi was born in Milano on 18 April 1939 to Cuggionese Angelo Volpi and Rosa Cainarca. His family moved to Cuggiono when he was an infant.

His father died in 1942 fighting on the Russian front.

Vittorio spent his childhood and adolescence in Cuggiono, an easy period of his busy life full of many anecdotes, facts and episodes.

He attended elementary and vocational schools in Cuggiono: his teachers and professors encouraged his mother Rosa to have him continue his studies since they recognized Vittorio’s uncommon qualities; postwar years were difficult, however, and only his older sister Franca had a job. At 14 he quit day school and was hired as assistant clerk by a small bank of Milan in recognition of his being a war orphan. He attended night school at the Istituto Tecnico De Amicis in Milan and graduated in accountancy in five years: each year he won a gold medal and a scholarship; top student in the state examinations, he enrolled in the night courses of the Faculty of Economics of the Catholic University of Milan and graduated magna cum laude.

He began his meteoric career in 1963, full of accomplishments in the economic, financial and publishing world both in Italy and abroad and became one of the foremost experts in these fields especially in Japan, where he spent a several years and still conducts some of his activities.

He has taught and still teaches international finance and financial systems, Japanese economy and other subjects in Tokio and elsewhere to students all over the world.

He was Japanese correspondent for "Il Corriere della Sera" writing articles on the economy, finance and culture ; his essays and texts have been published in various languages by specialized magazines and domestic and foreign newspapers.

The steps of this spectacular climb towards the most prestigious of world achievements are numerous ; today Vittorio Volpi, in addition to his busy teaching and consulting schedule, is President of Business Unit Italy, UBS SA of Lugano, Switzerland and President of the board of directors of UBS Italy in Milan.

He has received numerous awards:

- The Italian orders of merit of the Republic: Cavaliere (Knight), Commendatore (Commander) and Grand’Ufficiale (Grand Official).

- The Italy-Japan Friendship Foundation Journalistic award.

- The Capri San Michele Prize 2006 for Essays on Various Humanities.

- The decoration of the Emperor of Japan for his contribution towards business and culture, the "Order of the Rising Son – blue ribbon".

He is married to Annamarie, resides in Lugano, Switzerland and has two sons, Michelangelo and Nicola who work in the United States.

He has added prestige to our community, where he spent his youth among school friends who still remember him with admiration and has achieved the highest professional goals.

The municipality of Cuggiono is honored to register Vittorio Volpi among its citizens._