Born in Mandello del Lario (LC) in 1944.

Ha has teached in several Italian universities (Trento, Milano - Università Statale, Sassari) and abroad (Erasmus of Rotterdam, HEC Parigi, Wirtschaft Universität Vienna).

From November 1, 2000 to October 31, 2004 he has been Rettore dell'Università Commerciale "Luigi Bocconi" of Milano, and he is now a regular professor at the same University of European Political Economy .

Within the same University, from 1990 to 1994, he has been prorettore per la didattica, post laurea formation and international relations.

He is Director of the 'Istitute of Latin American Studies and Transitional Cuntries" (ISLA) and he has been director of the specializing course "Master in Economia del Turismo" and he has holds the chair of European Studies "Jean Monnet" from 1995 to 2002 and from 2004 to 2007.

He is a member of the Boards of Directors of Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo of Milano, Teatro alla Scala Faundation, Tangenziali Esterne di Milano S.p.A., Lloyd Adriatico S.p.A. , Parmalat S.p.A., Mediaset S.p.A. and RAS S.p.A..
In addition he is a member of the Boards of Directors of Fondazioni and entities with scientific and cultural orientation.

He has been a Senator of the Repubblic in the XII Legislation and he has been a member of the European Parliament for the IV Legislation. He has been part of the Economic, Monetary and Industrial Politics Commission, of which he has been also Deputy Chairman.

He holds the requirements contempleted by the Code of Conduct prepared by the Corporate Governance Committee of the Listed Companies to be qualified as indipendent.