Dario Item

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Dario Item
Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to Spain, Monaco, and Liechtenstein | Permanent Representative to United Nations World Tourism Organization
Assumed office
2016
Prime MinisterGaston Browne
Personal details
Born (1972-06-28) June 28, 1972 (age 51)
Naples
EducationUniversity of Geneva, University of Parma

Dario Item is a Swiss and Antiguan and Barbudan diplomat and lawyer.[1] He is the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Antigua and Barbuda to Spain,[2] Principality of Monaco, and the Principality of Liechtenstein.[3][4][5][6] He is Antigua and Barbuda's Permanent Representative UNWTO.[7][8][9] He is best known for his game changing efforts to boost investments in Antigua and Barbuda amounting to over 100 million,[10] and for his investigations, which led to major revelations on Credit Suisse AT1 bonds considered by the Financial Times as "one of the most consequential European banking scoops of the year"[11][12][13]

Biography

Dario Item is a descendant of an ancient and noble Swiss family, with roots in Bonaduz and Malans in the Canton of Graubünden. The family relocated to Naples in 1800 when it was the capital of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.[14][10]

The Item family has a historical connection with Swiss regiments that served the Bourbon - Two Sicilies Royal House, to which they have remained devoted. His great-great-grandfather, Vincenzo Item, has earned multiple decorations, including a double gold medal in the Battle of Gaeta (1860-1861). Meanwhile, his great-grandfather, Aurelio Item, is recognized for the discovery of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii, originally named Villa Item.[14][15]

Education

Dario Item finished high school education in Lugano. He further pursued his academic endeavors at the University of Geneva, as well as the Universities of Parma, Ferrara, Teramo, and Genoa in Italy. Item has earned a law degree (1996) and a degree in political science (2004), along with a master's degree in Trust law (2005) and in Legal psychology and psychopathology of criminal conduct (2006). He holds a PhD in Criminal Law and an LL.M in International Financial Crimes.[16]

In 1998, he passed the bar examination at the Court of Appeals of the Canton of Ticino in Lugano. He obtained his certification as a public notary in 1999. In 2002, he successfully completed the examination qualifying him to practice law in Italy.[14][1]

Career

Since 1998, Dario Item has been actively engaged as an international lawyer with a focus on trust law, criminal law, banking law, diplomatic law, and consular law.

In 2015, he established a branch of his law firm in London. In 2016, he entered the diplomatic corps of Antigua and Barbuda, initially serving as Consul General, and subsequently assuming the role of Head of Mission at the Embassy in Madrid in 2018.

Beyond his diplomatic role, he has authored various academic works on trust law, banking and anti-money laundering law and criminal law.[14]

Credit Suisse case

In the aftermath of the Credit Suisse financial scandal resulting in the write-down of CHF 16 billion of AT1 bonds, Dario Item, on May 15, 2023, significantly contributed towards public understanding by publishing crucial documents on Antigua.news, a local media outlet in Antigua and Barbuda.[17][3]

In the disclosure, Dario Item was the first to expose the contents of FINMA's orders on March 19 and March 22, 2023, highlighting contradictions with statements from FINMA, the Swiss government, the Swiss National Bank, and the CEO of Swiss Credit in the week preceding the bank's collapse.  

His revelations gained substantial international attention, being prominently covered by Financial Times, Reuters,[18] Finews,[19] and other major news outlets.[3][20] Financial Times considered this expose as "one of the most consequential European banking scoops of the year".[21]  

Following this, Ambassador Item continued to publish significant revelations. On October 3, 2023, he released an article titled "Credit Suisse AT1s Case: The Unspoken Things," shedding light on the lack of transparency during the March 19, 2023 press conference and the subsequent merger between UBS and Credit Suisse.[22]  

On November 3, 2023, another article titled "Credit Suisse AT1 Bonds: The Missed Opportunity" emphasized Credit Suisse's inconsistent behavior toward investors. These revelations brought forward by Dario Item became sources and further covered by Die Weltwoche, Inside Paradeplatz, and Corriere del Ticino.[23][22][24]

Dario Item is recognized by the international press as a primary source for comprehending the Credit Suisse AT1s case. The media outlet where Item published these scoops, Antigua.news, was awarded the Best Online News Media of the Year 2023 for the entire Caribbean.[25]

Philanthropy

In addition to his professional activities, Dario Item is actively involved in philanthropy, particularly supporting Antigua and Barbuda's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. He is a member of the Caucus of European-based diplomats engaged in relief operations. Furthermore, Item supports the Rotary Club of Antigua and Barbuda, contributing to philanthropic projects on the island.[26][27]

Awards and recognition

Personal life

Dario Item is fluent in Italian, French, German, English and Spanish.[28] Dario Item has been married since 2000. He is a father of 4 children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "The Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda in Spain". Antigua and Barbuda Embassy in Madrid - Ambassador Dario Item. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  2. ^ "UNWTO and Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador Dario Item Share Vision of Tourism for Growth and Opportunity". www.unwto.org. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  3. ^ a b c "Meet the pizza-loving diplomat behind Antigua News's big Credit Suisse scoop". www.ft.com. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  4. ^ "UNWTO Welcomes Newest Member, Antigua and Barbuda". www.unwto.org. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  5. ^ Chouanière, Thomas (2019-03-11). "Quatre nouveaux ambassadeurs à Monaco". Monaco Tribune (in French). Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  6. ^ "Antigua y Barbuda abre por primera vez una Embajada en España". The Diplomat in Spain (in European Spanish). 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  7. ^ "UNWTO and Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador Dario Item Share Vision of Tourism for Growth and Opportunity". UNWTO. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  8. ^ John, Steven (2023-02-06). "As UNWTO Representative for his island nation, Dario Item is driving sustainable tourism for Antigua and Barbuda..." We Heart. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  9. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda becomes UNWTO full member". The Diplomat in Spain. 2022-01-22. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  10. ^ a b Burrow, Stephen. "Antigua & Barbuda's Foreign Affairs Minister praises Ambassador Dario Item as a game changer". Dominica News Online. Archived from the original on 20 January 2024. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  11. ^ Emmanuel, Robert. "Investigations by 'pizza lover' Antiguan diplomat led to major Credit Suisse revelation". Antigua Observer.
  12. ^ team, pointe (2023-05-30). "Antigua and Barbuda ambassador Dario Item makes sensational international scoop in Credit Suisse AT1 case". Pointe Xpress | Pointe FM 99.1 | Platnium FM 97.9 | Pointe Tv. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  13. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda ambassador Dario Item makes sensational international scoop in Credit Suisse AT1 case". Dominica News Online.
  14. ^ a b c d "Foreign Affairs Minister Praises Ambassador Dario Item as a game changer" (PDF). Pointville Express. pp. 10–11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2024.
  15. ^ "VILLA DEI MISTERI - Treccani". Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  16. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda consulate opens in Monte Carlo". Antigua Observer. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022.
  17. ^ "Credit Suisse AT1 Bonds write-down: Swiss Court orders FINMA to disclose documents to plaintiffs - Antigua and Barbuda News !". antigua.news. 2023-05-15. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  18. ^ Spezzati, Stefania. "Credit Suisse neared its cash limits days before rescue, filing shows". Reuters. Archived from the original on 12 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  19. ^ "Credit Suisse Wants to Keep a Lid on Finma Communications". finews.com. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
  20. ^ "Credit Suisse writedown: court examines release of more documents". SwissInfo.ch. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  21. ^ Smith, Robert. "Robert Smith | Financial Times | Twitter". Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Darío Item, embajador de Antigua y Barbuda en España: "El caso Credit Suisse AT1 ha sido una expropiación"". El Español (in Spanish). 2023-06-13. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  23. ^ "Die 16-Milliarden-Frage". Die Weltwoche (in German). 2023-11-08. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  24. ^ "Der 16-Milliarden-Schwindel – Inside Paradeplatz" (in German). 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  25. ^ "Antigua.News Wins Best Online News Media of the Year - Antigua and Barbuda News !". antigua.news. 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  26. ^ "Dario Item, Ambassador of Antigua & Barbuda, Spearheads COVID-19 Emergency Relief Operations". International Business Times. 2020-09-10. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  27. ^ "Ambassador Dario Item welcomed by the Executive of Rotary Club of Antigua and Barbuda - Antigua and Barbuda News !". antigua.news. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  28. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda consulate opens in Monte Carlo". Dominica News Online. 28 October 2022. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
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