15 Facts About Riccardo Illy

Riccardo Illy was born on 24 September 1955 and is an Italian businessman and former politician.

Riccardo Illy married Rossana Bettini, food and wine journalist, at a young age.

Riccardo Illy started work in the family's coffee making firm illycaffe in 1977, which was founded by his grandfather in 1933.

Riccardo Illy created a marketing department for the company which, up to then, did not have one.

Riccardo Illy subsequently served as CEO and is presently the vice president of the company, which has a presence in over 140 countries.

Riccardo Illy is the author of a book entitled Dal Caffe all'Espresso published by Mondadori and translated into English, French and German.

Riccardo Illy has held positions of Vice President of the Association of Industrialists in Trieste and President of the Seminario Permanente Veronelli.

Riccardo Illy was honoured with the title of Grande Ufficiale by the president of the Italian Republic, and the Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold title by the president of the Austrian Republic.

Riccardo Illy was awarded an honoris causa degree in political sciences at the University of Trieste after his "lectio doctoralis" on the topic of enlargement of Europe to the Eastern Countries.

In 2001, Riccardo Illy was elected a Member of the Italian Parliament with the mixed group of independent members.

Riccardo Illy was part of the IX Parliamentary Commission and secretary to the Advisory Parliamentary Commission regarding the bringing into force of the administrative reforms.

Riccardo Illy has strongly believed in and promoted the referendum not confirming the regional electoral law.

Riccardo Illy was elected president of theregion in the elections held on 8 and 9 June 2003.

Riccardo Illy was unanimously elected president of the Assembly of European Regions in December 2004, and his mandate ended in 2008.

On 14 April 2008 Riccardo Illy was defeated in his re-election bid by candidate Renzo Tondo, and his term as president ended on 18 April 2008.