Stefano Marsaglia was one of the leading investment bankers in Europe. He has been working in the private equity sector for over five years and he is currently CEO of Azzurra Capital.
During his over 30-year investment banking career, he was responsible for advising on some of the largest corporate and banking M&A transactions, IPOs, capital and debt financings in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and America, focusing in particular on financial institutions. He managed operations in the capital market segment, from advisory services, M&A, up to the management of the entire investment banking business of the Italian financial group Mediobanca. He also advised several governments and state institutions during the 2008 – 2012 financial crisis, as well as during some of the most important privatizations.
He started his career in 1978 after graduating from the faculty of Economics at the University of Turin, covering important roles with increasing responsibilities.
In 1992, he became partner as head of financial institutions and co-head of investment banking for Europe and Latin America for Rothschild & Sons Ltd.
After 18 years in investment banking advisory for Rothschild, Stefano Marsaglia decided to focus his activity on a more operational business in the US market. In 2010 Bob Diamond, the then chairman and deputy group chief executive of Barclays, called him to join the investment banking division of Barclays Bank as Chairman of global financial institutions, following the acquisition of the North American operations of Lehman Brothers Holdings.
In 2014, he became Executive Chairman of the Corporate and Investment Banking arm of Mediobanca. Here, his aim was to modernize and expand the international activities of Mediobanca over the full spectrum of products, including capital markets, equity and debt products, corporate finance and M&A.
In 2018, he left Mediobanca to co-found, together with the Qatar Investment Authority, Peninsula Capital, a €1.6 bln international private equity firm with offices in Luxembourg, London, Dubai, Milan and Madrid. As managing partner he had a leading role in defining the investment strategy and in particular in defining sectors and countries to invest in. Its investments have been in various sectors but focus on companies with a leading position in their area of activity.
In 2021, he left Peninsula Capital to create a new private equity fund, Azzurra Capital, with offices in Luxembourg, Dubai, Milan and London.
Stefano Marsaglia is currently member of several boards. Together with international experts, he sits on the Advisory Board of Afiniti, a leading US-based AI technology company.
Furthermore, he is on the Board of Directors of Fluentify a UK-based educational company which is also active in Italy, of which he is the founder and in the Advisory Board of Artemest, the digital platform for the luxury furniture and art objects sectors.
On the educational side, he is on the Fordham London Advisory Board of New York-based Fordham University. This role offers him the opportunity to lecture on topics including international business, the financial services industry and career consulting. He is committed in providing students of the Fordham University and Gabelli School of Business with an international and experienced view of the investments industry at the global level.
In December 2014, Stefano Marsaglia was awarded the title of Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia by Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic, for his work in developing the financial services industry.
Stefano Marsaglia has been listed as an investment banker by Who’s Who in the World – 1993-1994, 11th Edition (pub. 1992)
He is married to Anastasia Marsaglia and has two daughters, Sofia and Alexandra, and three sons, Anthony, Carlo and Nicholas.
Stefano Marsaglia has been a keen polo player and his team Azzurra won many top competitions. In 1991, he participated in important English tournaments. Among his top trophies are the English Gold Cup, the highest rated tournament in Europe, the Prince of Wales Trophy, the Queens Cup (sub) and the Gold Cup in Gstaad.
He is fluent in Italian, English, Spanish and French.