People before Numbers

Filippo Gori is the first Italian executive to have reached a top global position at J.P. Morgan, the world’s largest investment bank in terms of both assets under management and market capitalisation. But this is not the only reason why the 51-year-old executive – who currently serves as Co-Head of Global Banking, having previously been CEO for the Asia-Pacific and EMEA regions – has been chosen by the Bocconi Alumni Community as Alumnus of the Year 2026. The award will be presented on 23 October during a ceremony that will also honour Anna Fiscale, Alumna Changemaker, and Giada Zhang, Alumna Emerging Leader.

He has earned the title through recognition of a leadership style “based on responsibility and a focus on people”. “I am immensely flattered and surprised by the award and the citation,” comments Gori, a native of San Giovanni Valdarno, who graduated from Bocconi with a thesis in Economic History in the late 1990s. “After 28 years of working abroad, I didn’t think I was still on the community’s radar, and, above all, that the qualities mentioned would be noticed. When I look at the list of past winners, many of whom hold positions of great institutional significance, I feel even more grateful and honoured.”

What were your expectations when you enrolled at Bocconi, and what career path did you envisage for yourself?

I ended up at Bocconi almost by chance: I come from a family where nobody had ever gone to university. My father grew up in an orphanage, started working at the age of 10, and taught himself an incredible amount. It was he who steered me towards choosing Bocconi, urging me to sit the entrance exam even though, at the very time of the test, I was busy at a Scout camp and came to Milan more to make him happy than out of any real conviction. Given these circumstances, the first year was difficult. Meeting a group of political economy students – who later became fellow students and lifelong friends – gave me the strength I needed to see the course through to the end. After completing my dissertation in economic history, I considered an academic career and went to London to teach for a short while. Then came the call from J.P. Morgan, which turned out to be the job of a lifetime.

What aspects of the US bank convinced you to stay for so long – almost thirty years – within the same organisation?

Such a long career would not have been possible had I not shared the same values as the institution I work for. But what really made me stay were the people. Right from day one, when I met a group of young Italian analysts – who later became an international team of young managers – with whom I still share my day-to-day work and who make it easier, and indeed more enjoyable, to navigate a competitive and stressful environment such as the one in which we operate.

What principles and guiding thread have shaped your career at J.P. Morgan?

I’ve always made unconventional choices. For me, as I’ve said, even studying at Bocconi was a decision that broke with family tradition. And the same was true of my career at J.P. Morgan: when, in 2013, they asked me, for example, to go to Asia, I was already a senior managing director in Europe. The most obvious choice would have been to stay where I was. I decided to do the opposite: I went to Asia as to learn new things and really develop myself. Similarly, within the organisation, I’ve moved between different areas, from markets to banking. If I can offer one piece of advice to young professionals, it’s to aim for roles that bring out your strengths: it’s right to work on your weaknesses, but from a certain level onwards, it becomes crucial to choose roles where you can best express your talent.

Returning to the reasons behind your recognition as Alumnus of the Year, how do you balance the responsibilities that come with this role?

I try not to take myself too seriously, reminding myself that nobody is indispensable. Even when faced with the most serious problems, I avoid wasting time looking for someone to blame and focus first and foremost on solutions, whilst also trying to put myself in other people’s shoes – perhaps even those of the person who made the mistake. After all, ours is a people-centred business: both internally and in our relationships with clients. For this reason, maintaining a focus on the human aspect is essential for growth, achieving results and tackling our commitments with greater balance. Finally, it is important to remember that an institution like JPMorganChase exists not only for its own success, but also to contribute to the improvement of the communities in which it operates.

From your vantage point in the US, what is your view of Italy and its economic system in recent years?

Italy is doing well, probably better than it is given credit for. That said, the European context should be given greater recognition. Looking at Europe from the United States – and for many years from China – one realises clearly just how crucial the Old Continent is to ensuring we are not crushed between these two superpowers. It is in everyone’s interest that Europe remains prosperous and continues to grow, not least to defend the values of peace and freedom that are not universally shared. For me, this issue holds special significance: it is closely linked to my family’s history – my grandfather was deported to concentration camps – and, more generally, to that of many Italian families.

What advice would you give to young people wishing to pursue a career in major international investment banks?

It’s a great profession! I speak of it with humility and gratitude, as it has allowed me to have exceptional experiences and to see the best of countries and societies. It’s a career that requires sacrifices, often on a personal level too, but one that gives a great deal in return. Even when it’s seen as a temporary experience, it’s always highly formative; it teaches you a way of working that stays with you forever. And besides, I struggle to think of a more meritocratic environment than an investment bank.

What lesson did you learn at Bocconi that you still consider most important for your professional life today?

I may be stating the obvious, but the most obvious lesson I’ve learnt is that, if you study and work hard consistently, results will follow – even those that, until recently, you thought were beyond your reach. Similarly, in any field, you can’t just make things up or wing it; commitment is always required.

What word would you associate with Bocconi today?

Window. For me, it was a real window onto the world. I remember that in 1996–97, during lectures with Professors Giavazzi and Tabellini, we studied the effects of the introduction of the euro, which, in the years that followed, we saw coming to pass exactly as predicted. My studies at Bocconi taught me to always look at systems as a whole – observing their dynamics and interrelationships – and to carefully assess the consequences of every choice.

What advice would you give to the student Gori if you met him in the lecture hall today?

Not to leave statistics as his final exam under any circumstances!