11 Distinguished Leaders Honored at 9th Business Care International Award Ceremony
News related to:Business Care International Award · 2 min read
NEW YORK, Oct. 23, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The 9th edition of the Business Care International Award, an Italian-American nonprofit established in 2019, will honor 11 distinguished leaders in business, culture, science, and media at the Consulate General of Italy in New York on November 18. The event, which will be followed by a day of dialogue, deal-making, and networking at Piazza Italia in Times Square on November 19, aims to recognize individuals who create shared value and give back to society.
The award ceremony, hosted by Consul General Giuseppe Pastorelli, will celebrate the achievements of leaders who have made significant contributions to various fields. Among the honorees are Massimo Allegri, General Manager Americas of ITA Airways, who leads the Italian national carrier's operations across North and South America; Federico Ferrante, President of Azimut Benetti America, a leading builder of luxury yachts and superyachts; and Rosario Mariani, Chairman of Cisalpina Tours International S.p.A., an established travel management company.
Other recipients include Fabrizio Zichichi, COO and Partner of Phibro, who brings extensive international experience in energy, commodities trading, and executive leadership; Simona Franci, Co-Founder and Design Director of Fortebis, an internationally renowned architect; and Annalisa Liuzzo, Principal of Liuzzo & Associates, recognized for her professional leadership and service to the Italian American business community.
In the field of engineering and technology, Nicola Ianeselli, Senior Director of Technologies at Chenmoore, an AI-driven engineering and technology leader, will be honored. Dr. Antonino Di Franco, a cardiologist and clinical associate professor at Weill Cornell, will receive the award for his work in combining patient care with research at one of New York's leading academic medical centers.
Journalists and cultural figures Federico Rampini, Mario Platero, and Claudio Pagliara will also be recognized. Rampini, a best-selling author on America, China, and the global economy, and Platero, a veteran observer of U.S. politics and finance, will be honored for their contributions to Italian journalism. Pagliara, the director of the Italian Cultural Institute of New York, will also receive the award.
The event will feature a showcase of the "Italian Icons, Lighting Up the World" project, which celebrates Italian excellence that strengthens the country's reputation around the globe. This project, introduced at the 8th edition of the award in Rome, will highlight authentic Italian production and counter "Italian-sounding" imitations.
Alberto Milani, a past recipient and co-founder of Piazza Italia, will welcome the honorees to the home he built for Italian business in New York. The day will be devoted to dialogue, new projects, cultural and business agreements, and networking among Italian and American leaders.
Steven Machat, a legend of the international music industry, will be the guest of honor on both days, joined by Debbie Machat and the Buena Vista Orchestra. Other guests include Marco Nodari, a musician and multiple Grammy Award nominee, and Dr. Sabrina Zappia, head of the International Patrons of the Arts in the Vatican Museums.
The 2026 New York program is coordinated by the award's New York headquarters under Simona Scarsella, with communications support from Barbara Wagner Communications. The event marks a significant moment in recognizing Italian excellence in the United States and strengthening the ties between the two nations.