Having led the development of four digital banks from inception, I orchestrated a groundbreaking community-based banking pilot in the US (named BELLA), leveraging AI technology as its cornerstone. This initiative attracted over 1 million members within a year, achieving remarkable organic growth and boasting exceptionally low customer acquisition costs. Our mission extended beyond merely building and scaling a consumer banking proposition; we aimed to demonstrate the potential of blending cutting-edge technology innovation with the right tone of voice and the seamless integration of human-AI interaction.Our success is not solely attributable to our cutting-edge end-to-end banking platform but also to our diverse team of banking experts, designers, and creatives. Together, we've mastered the art of plug-and-play banking experiences on a global scale, facilitating the launch of digital banks worldwide within six months.With a proven track record of serving prominent clients like LivePerson, UniCredit Group and Banca Progetto (Oaktree Capital), supported by a substantial investment exceeding 40 million euros in technological development, our platform stands as a comprehensive solution capable of launching robust global banking operations within six months. It enables real-time, secure transactions across traditional and blockchain channels, ensuring seamless banking experiences for our clients and their customers.

Under the esteemed mentorship of CEO Paolo Fiorentino (former COO of UniCredit), I spearheaded the digital transformation journey of Banca Progetto. I assembled our inaugural team of digital experts, driving innovation and adopting cutting-edge backend and frontend banking solutions. We successfully transformed a traditional small bank into a scalable, fully digital bank on the cloud. This was a pivotal project that I led for 12 months, aiding my former boss in transforming a money-losing entity into a digital powerhouse. Banca Progetto, owned by Oaktree Capital, is poised to go public in 2024, demonstrating unprecedented revenue growth.

As the founder, inventor, and CEO of buddybank, I played a pivotal role in shaping UniCredit's competitive edge in the digital banking sphere. My responsibilities spanned from ideation to rollout, where I crafted the vision and designed both the brand and the user experience. I successfully managed and grew buddybank's P&L, while rigorously overseeing risk, compliance, and security requirements.Examples of some of my accomplishments:Stakeholder Alignment and Internal Advocacy: I invested significant effort in aligning stakeholders, including commercial banking executives, IT, compliance, and other key players. My success in internal politics was instrumental in gaining support from various levels of the organization, including a new group CEO, to build and invest in buddybank as the bank of the future.Strategic Alliance with Apple: I spearheaded the negotiation and signing of a world-first strategic agreement with Apple in Cupertino. This partnership was crucial in co-designing buddybank, the first conversational bank exclusively for iPhone, marking a significant milestone at its launch.Driving Profitability and Product Expansion: Under my leadership, buddybank achieved profitability by diversifying its product offerings to include lending products, investment options, and insurance services, effectively responding to evolving market needs.Team Building and Talent Retention: I built and led a high-performing team, starting with a core group of 12 "co-founders" and expanding to a robust workforce of hundreds across various units. This growth was characterized by near-zero churn, highlighting the strong team culture and commitment to our vision.Legacy and Impact: Today, buddybank stands as the main digital acquisition channel for the UniCredit Group, directly competing with and responding to Banca Intesa's Easy Bank. This achievement underscores the strategic importance and success of buddybank under my stewardship.

I deployed multiple improvements and innovations, including UX/UI functionality for company apps and customized product development for specific target audiences. I was responsible for the global innovation pipeline, and with my team we fueled generation of 1K+ ideas executed via 10-12 real projects per year. Examples of some of my accomplishments: Tapping the senior citizen market by positioning millions of customers aged 65 and older to perform basic banking activities online creating from scratch the company’s first such internet banking service called "Subito Banca Via Internet", winning the Best Home Banking Award in 2013.Automating 10+ branch procedures, sharpening efficiency and lowering branch operating overhead by 22% while increasing sales of added value services by >28%. Delivering multiple customer experience improvements, like automation in self service processes, contact less payments innovation, new branch experiences, customer engagement and financial educational for all ages, including kids.

I gained in-depth experience in operating an end-to-end IT service for one of the largest European banks. Thanks to this enriching experience, I am now adept at leading both engineers and product teams towards transformative goals, achieving them in a very short time, within a positive and motivational environment.