Career Biography and Key Achievements

Francesco Giliotti is Group Chief Legal, Compliance and Communication Officer at Barilla Group, where he serves as General Counsel. He leads an integrated function encompassing legal affairs, corporate governance, compliance and data protection, while also overseeing corporate and internal communications, public relations, government affairs, and institutional engagement.

After graduating in Law in 2002, Francesco completed a postgraduate specialization in the legal professions and qualified as an Italian lawyer in 2004. Following initial experience in private practice, he joined Barilla in 2007 as Legal Counsel within the Group Legal and Corporate Affairs function. He subsequently assumed progressively broader responsibilities, supporting key business and operational areas before extending his remit to corporate affairs and compliance.

In 2020, he was appointed Group Chief Communication & External Relations Officer, with responsibility for corporate reputation, media relations, institutional engagement, and external positioning. In 2023, he assumed leadership of the combined Legal, Corporate Affairs, Compliance and Communication function, reflecting the increasing interdependence of legal risk, corporate reputation, stakeholder expectations, and responsible business conduct.

As General Counsel, Francesco advises the Group across multiple jurisdictions on M&A and other strategic transactions, corporate and commercial matters, regulatory issues, data protection, disputes and risk management. He works closely with senior leadership, business functions and external advisers, providing practical and commercially grounded guidance on major initiatives and complex decisions.

He also plays a central role in Barilla’s crisis management framework. After coordinating the Group Crisis Committee from 2016, he later assumed leadership of the Group Crisis Team. In this capacity, he has managed complex situations requiring the coordination of legal analysis, operational response, communications, and stakeholder engagement.

Alongside his executive responsibilities, Francesco serves on the boards of several Group companies, including Barilla International B.V., Barilla Iniziative S.p.A. and Pasta Evangelists Ltd, and is Vice Chairman of Fondazione Barilla. Through these appointments, he contributes directly to strategic oversight, corporate governance, and the Group’s long-term development across different businesses and jurisdictions. He also participates in internal governance and advisory bodies focused on ethics, inclusion, corporate responsibility, and organisational development.

Francesco was recognized in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Italy 2023. His career has evolved from specialist legal practice to enterprise-wide leadership, while retaining a strong focus on integrity, collaboration, and the development of high-performing, international teams.

His professional profile is distinguished by his ability to connect legal expertise with business strategy, reputation, and external engagement. He views the General Counsel not only as a guardian of the organisation, but also as a business partner and corporate leader who helps the group navigate complexity, make informed decisions and build trust with employees, institutions, partners and wider society.