Gerardo Patacconi is the Head of Operations of the International Coffee Organization (ICO) as of January 2018. Economist-statistician and agribusiness sustainability and development expert, after working in the private sector in manufacturing and banking sectors in Italy, he joined the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in 1987 as associate Expert in Papua New Guinea, reaching then the position of Director of the UNIDO Department of Agribusiness Development.

Policy and strategic advice, sustainable development, funds mobilization and management and operation of large-scale projects and teams are at the core of his experience. He has successfully helped building Public-Private Partnerships covering agribusiness, the coffee sector and creativity value chains. He is regularly invited to contribute to specialized magazines and newspapers and as speaker or moderator in international events.