Francesca Pasinelli leaves her executive roles but will remain on the Board of Fondazione Telethon.
Ilaria Villa will be in charge as Managing Director of Fondazione Telethon as of September 16, 2024. She was appointed by the Board of Directors of Fondazione Telethon chaired by Luca di Montezemolo.
Francesca Pasinelli, Telethon's current Managing Director, has decided to leave her operational duties after many years, maintaining the role of Board member with special mandates entrusted to her by the President.
"After many years I am leaving this operational position," explains Francesca Pasinelli, "but I will always be linked to the Foundation; my bond with this organization that I have always supported and deeply loved began in 1997”.
"I will continue to be very close and at the Foundation's disposal, with a different role yet always present".
Francesca Pasinelli
"I would like to thank Francesca," comments Telethon President Luca di Montezemolo, "for the passion and commitment she has shown in all these years in motivating and leading the team of Fondazione Telethon. I am grateful for her commitment in leading the Foundation to outstanding achievements. I am sure," he added, "that Ilaria Villa, who has a history of her own in this field that is just as prestigious, can carry the torch and face the challenges of a Foundation increasingly committed to innovative research as an instrument of hope for the future of many children".
"To Ilaria goes my warm welcome and best wishes for good work. To Francesca, on the other hand, I wish to remind that her commitment to the Foundation is not over."
Luca di Montezemolo
Ilaria Villa, the new Telethon Managing Director, has an economic background and a long managerial experience in multinational pharmaceutical companies (including Zambon, UCB and Roche), where she contributed to the development and launch of several innovative drugs in different therapeutic areas.
“I am honored and delighted to join the Telethon team where I intend to put my experience to good use in assisting the path of transforming research results into therapies that should be accessible to all patients".
Ilaria Villa
"After many years in the for-profit sector, I want to give my personal and professional skills to support the Foundation's effort in making innovative therapies, which are not always sustainable for companies, available to people affected by very rare diseases."
