Lucio Caputo is the president of the International Trade Center, president of the Italian Wine &
Food Institute, president of the GEI, chairman of the European Wine Council, president of the
ASILM; member of the Italian Advisory Committee of Princeton University. Former Italian
Trade Commissioner in New York, and an expert in international trade and marketing. Dr.
Caputo’s background includes considerable experience in the field of journalism, economics and
law.

In recognition of his outstanding work in favor of Italy in all his activities, the President of the
Italian Republic awarded Dr. Caputo with the title of “Commendatore” in 1981, “Grande
Ufficiale” in 1996 and “Cavaliere di Gran Croce” in the Order to the Merit of the Italian
Republic in 2003. Dr. Caputo also has received many other awards and recognitions from private
and public organizations both from Italy and the United States, and is an honorary member of
numerous associations.

Born in Monreale, Italy, Dr. Caputo received a doctorate in Law followed by a degree in
Journalism and a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Palermo. He was an editor
of the “Giornale di Sicilia,” one of Italy’s major daily newspapers, and was a correspondent for
numerous other newspapers and magazines in Italy.

He completed specialized courses in public relations, was admitted to the bar, and began a legal
career with a major law firm. After attending the Air Force Academy in Florence and completing
his tour of service as a lieutenant in the Italian Air Force, he joined Italy’s Foreign Trade Institute
in Rome. He initially conducted market surveys in foreign countries, such as Cyprus, and Libya,
and then served as managing director of the magazines, “Italy Presents” and “Quality.”

In 1964 he was appointed Deputy Italian Trade Commissioner in London. In 1967 he led a yearlong
study and market research mission in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.

During this period, Dr. Caputo’s abilities as a negotiator were put to the test when he was
selected to head the Italian team in a political and trade dispute. The “Liming” ship case
threatened to jeopardize trade between Italy and the People’s Republic of China; however, he
was able to diffuse the situation and was responsible for the two nations signing a mutually
beneficial agreement.

In October 1967 Dr. Caputo was appointed Italian Trade Commissioner in Philadelphia, the
youngest government official to serve in such a position abroad.

In 1972 he was appointed Italian Trade Commissioner in New York where he opened the new
office. Under Dr. Caputo’s guidance, the New York office became the largest Italian government
commercial office in the world.

In 1975 he founded the Italian Wine Center. Dr. Caputo led the center in conducting massive
marketing, advertising and promotional efforts, which resulted in the sharp rise and domination
of Italian Wines in the US import market. He started also the Italian Tile Center, the Italian
Fashion Center, the Italian Jewelry Center and the Italian Shoe Center.

In 1981 Dr. Caputo opened the Italian Trade Center in the Pei Building at 499 Park Avenue in
New York City. The Center, designed by the Architect Piero Sartoro, was the largest of any
foreign country and included an exhibition hall, an enoteca, a business center, meeting and
conference rooms with audio-visual and many other facilities.

As a sign of appreciation, the Italian producers donated the famous painting “Le Muse
Inquietanti” by Giorgio De Chirico to be exhibited in the Enoteca.

In 1982 Dr. Caputo became president of Ital Trade USA, an American society for the promotion
and sale of Italian products in the US.

In 1984 Dr. Caputo founded the Italian Wine & Food Institute, a non-profit organization
established to promote and further improve the image of Italian wine and food in the US. As
president of the Institute, Dr. Caputo annually organizes Gala Italia, a star studded, headlinewinning
event that brings together some of the world’s most illustrious names in Italian wine,
food, fashion and entertainment.

In 1987 Dr. Caputo became president of the International Trade Center, an American public
relations company. As the official North American representative for the “E A Fiere di Verona”
he has been active for over ten years in the promotion of numerous Italian business sectors. He
was also member of the board of NIAF.

For years, he has been organizing Italian promotional campaigns in department stores across the
globe, including Karstadt Premium, Holt Renfrew and Saks Fifth Avenue. To further support and
promote “Made in Italy,” he also has conducted a series of successful initiatives in cities
throughout the US, as well as in Russia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Puerto Rico and aboard
cruise ships.

For more than three decades Dr. Caputo has been active in promoting Italy and Italian products.
He is also active on the lecture circuit as a specialist on economic topics and as a spokesperson
for hundreds of radio and TV programs. He served as executive chair on numerous committees
in charge of organizing programs for visits of the foremost Italian Government representatives to
the United States, among them the Italian Premiers and the Presidents of the Italian Republic:
Pertini, Cossiga, Scalfaro, Ciampi and Napolitano. Dr. Caputo has been listed for many years in
the “Who’s Who in the World” and is a member of many organizations. He has traveled
throughout Europe, Africa, America and Asia, meeting with economic, business and press
representatives.

On the morning of 9/11, Dr. Caputo was inside his office on the 78th floor of the North Tower of
the World Trade Center, from which he was able to reach safety (www.google.com, search:
Lucio Caputo). Even though he lost his office and all of his working records, Dr. Caputo was
able to immediately restart his activities by opening a new office in the prestigious Lincoln
Building in Midtown Manhattan.