Richard the ambassador Sessa is the new President of the YES, Italian non-profit society for the international organization. He was unanimously elected by the General Assembly which also elected the Office of Presidenz, which includes Ambassador Marcello Salimei, Professor Sergio Marchisio and Doctor Sara Cavelli as Vice Presidents.
Riccardo Sessa takes over from the President Franco Frattini, who passed away last December 2022.
Ambassador Sessa was Ambassador of Italy in Belgrade, Tehran, Beijing and Permanent Representative to NATO in Brussels. He was also Director General for the Mediterranean countries and the Middle East, and previously, Head of the Office for Relations with Parliament in the Foreign Minister's Cabinet, Diplomatic Advisor to the Defense Minister and Head of the Prime Minister's Secretariat of Ministers Giulio Andreotti.
The General Assembly also renewed for the three-year period 2023-2025 a Board of Directors of personalities from the diplomatic, academic and journalistic world.
The organization of courses for future diplomats remains the core business of Sioi, from which over 60% of diplomats come: there are over 600 active ones. But the new President, in line with the model devised by former President Franco Frattini, also intends to strengthen Sioi's think tank activities, making it an increasingly authoritative venue for debates and public comparisons on international current affairs.
