Riccardo Perissich, senior counselor in APCO Worldwide’s Rome office, assists clients on international public affairs issues and European Union policy-making.

Prior to joining APCO, Mr. Perissich spent 12 years at Pirelli SpA where he served as the director of public and economic affairs and was a member of the board of directors until 2001. He then moved to Telecom Italia Group where he served as director of central public and economic affairs as well as served as a member of the board of directors of Telecom Italia Mobile SpA and chairman of Telecom Italia Media.

Mr. Perissich spent many years in the European Commission. From 1970 until 1986, he served as chef de cabinet for four members of the Commission. In 1986, he became deputy director-general of DG Internal Market and Industrial Affairs. In this position, he coordinated the Single Market program for the European Commission. In 1990, he became the director-general for industry, a position which he held up until his transition to Pirelli SpA in 1994.

Mr. Perissich currently serves as chairman of the supervisory board of Oni Communications (Portugal).

In May 2008, he published a book, "The European Union - An Unofficial History," with a foreword from the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano.