Anthony Di Pietro

Anthony Di Pietro

Di Pietro speaking at a 2015 Chairman’s Event
Born (1969-02-15) 15 February 1969
Frankston, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Residence Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nationality Australian
Occupation Businessman
-CEO and Board member of Premier Fruits Group (2003-) and LaManna Group (2016-)
-Chairman of Melbourne Victory FC (2011-)
Known for Chairman of Melbourne Victory FC

Anthony Di Pietro is Chairman of Melbourne Victory FC, a professional association football (soccer) club that participates in the Hyundai A-League, and also the Chief Executive Officer and Board member of industry leading fruit & vegetable producers and marketers Premier Fruits Group (PFG) and LaManna Group (LMG).

Early life and education

Di Pietro was born in Frankston, Victoria, Australia and completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at The University of Melbourne in 1990. In 2013, he delivered the Occasional Address to the graduating students in the University’s Business and Economics faculty.[1]

Agribusiness

Di Pietro was appointed Group CEO of Premier Fruits Group (PFG) in 2003 and became CEO of LaManna Group (LMG) in 2016 when both companies announced a merger of their operations. The PFG and LMG merger created what is regarded as the second biggest business in Australia in fresh fruit and vegetables. [2]

The company's farming and marketing enterprises[3][4] cover all major Australian markets, along with markets in the USA and Asia. It has farming operations in North and South Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Goulburn Valley Victoria, making it one of Australia's largest producers.

Di Pietro is a strong advocate for an 'Australian-led Asian food boom' and has been a key participant in the Victorian Government's Food Trade initiatives to Asia.[5]

Hospitality

Di Pietro was a Director of the Sovereign Hotel Group from 2007 to 2010,[6] whose flagship business is Federation Square’s Transport Hotel, Taxi Dining Room and Transit Cocktail Lounge.

Melbourne Victory FC

Di Pietro alongside newly appointed coach Kevin Muscat at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in October 2013

In 2013 Di Pietro was named as one of the 10 most influential people in Australian football to help shape its future.[7] In May 2015 it was suggested that Di Pietro should be considered for the Board of Football Federation Australia and to replace retiring FFA Chairman Frank Lowy.[8]

Di Pietro was appointed to the Board of Melbourne Victory FC in 2006 during its formative years and became Chairman in January 2011. Di Pietro oversaw a number of key achievements for the club; including the 2014-15 Premiership and Championship, making it the only club to have won three Premiership and Championship titles,[9] as well as winning the FFA Cup title for the first time in November 2015 when it beat Perth Glory 2-nil.[10]

Notable Melbourne Victory signings under Di Pietro include the much sought-after A-League coach Ange Postecoglou on 26 April 2012, [11][12] and Albanian international Besart Berisha for the 2014-2015 season.[13]

In February 2012, Di Pietro called on Football Federation Australia to deal with Gold Coast United owner and chairman Clive Palmer’s attacks on the A-League. Palmer was ousted from the sport after losing a Supreme Court bid against Gold Coast United’s expulsion from the A-League.[14]

Di Pietro brought Premier League heavyweight Liverpool F.C. to Melbourne in July 2013 as part of the club's plan to enhance the profile of Melbourne Victory and the A-League.[15][16] The game attracted a record crowd of 95,446 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground for a soccer match; it was also the biggest crowd ever to have watched Liverpool.[17] In 2016, Juventus and Atlético Madrid played Melbourne Victory as part of the 2016 International Champions Cup Australia.

Following the appointment of Victory’s esteemed coach Ange Postecoglou to the Socceroos' coaching role, Di Pietro appointed former Victory skipper and assistant coach Kevin Muscat to the coaching role. Muscat's contract was extended in late 2014 for a further three seasons, with Di Pietro saying he was the 'best person for the job' to take the club back to the top of the A-League.[18][19]

In 2014, Di Pietro was part of a group of long-term shareholders acquiring a 35% parcel of Melbourne Victory shares on sale. The share acquisition was claimed to further enhance Melbourne Victory's financial stability and governance.[20][21]

Di Pietro has been a strong voice on football hooliganism, including standing resolutely against antisocial behaviour of ‘alleged’ club fans and also backing the FFA’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy on hooliganism, saying fans “safety and enjoyment must be upheld at all times".[22]

References

  1. ↑ Di Pietro, Anthony (November 2013). "Be prepared for change". Insights: Melbourne Business and Economics. The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Business & Economics.
  2. ↑ "Premier Fruits Group ripe for expansion". The Australian. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Goodwin, Sandra. "Victorian tomato grower joins Premier Group". News Ltd. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  4. ↑ Thistleton, Rebecca. "Tomato growers sign deal for all seasons". Fairfax. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Stensholt, John. "Di Pietro encourages food industry to think big". Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  6. ↑ Wilmot, Ben. "Hotel Investors Pour In". Highbeam Research. Retrieved 11 October 2007.
  7. ↑ Davutovic, David. "David Davutovic names the 10 people he believes can shape soccer's future in Australia". The Advertiser.
  8. ↑ Lynch, Michael. "Frank Lowy legend enhanced – but will succession process cloud it?". The Age. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
  9. ↑ Windley, Matt. "Melbourne Victory premiership: Kevin Muscat wants his side to enjoy win but be prepared to work". Heralds Sun. Retrieved 27 April 2015.
  10. ↑ "Victory's historic FFA Cup Final triumph". FFA Cup. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Ange Postecoglou announced as Melbourne Victory coach". Football Australia. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  12. ↑ Davutovic, David. "Ange Postecoglou confirmed as Victory Coach". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
  13. ↑ "Melbourne Victory signs Besart Berisha from Brisbane Roar". The Australian. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  14. ↑ "FFA axe Gold Coast United". Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  15. ↑ Gatt, Ray. "Liverpool fans ensure $5m sellout for Melbourne Victory match". The Australian. Retrieved 12 April 2013.
  16. ↑ Stensholt, John. "Man U, Liverpool to share $10m from Australian games". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 22 April 2013.
  17. ↑ Hogan, Jesse. "Victory wave on sea of Red". The Age. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  18. ↑ "Melbourne Victory lock in Muscat for three more years". Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "Di Pietro needs Muscat to succeed as much as the coach does himself". The Age. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  20. ↑ "Share sale confirms stability at Melbourne Victory". Melbourne Victory. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  21. ↑ Vedelago, Chris. "Melbourne Victory fans' plans to own stake in team dashed". The Age. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
  22. ↑ Lynch, Michael. "Melbourne Victory chairman blasts 'alleged' fans". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2015.

External links

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