Ricardo Franco Levi (born in Montevideo, Uruguay, 10 April 1949) is President of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP) since 2022. He was president of the Italian Publishers Association (AIE) from 2017 to 2023. His career in journalism and book publishing combined with political commitment in Italian and European institutions.

As professional journalist, he worked with major Italian newspapers: Il Corriere della Sera, where he is still a columnist, Il Sole-24 ore, Il Giorno, il Messaggero and La Stampa. He founded and was publisher and director of the daily newspaper L’indipendente.

As book publisher, he was board member of Il Mulino, a leading academic publishing house in Italy, and of  EGEA, the publishing house of Bocconi University in Milan, member of the Scientific Committee of the Italian Center for Book and Reading and of the Supervisory Board of SIAE, the Italian multi-purpose collective management organization.

As politician, Ricardo was Spokesman of the Italian Prime Minister (1997-1999) and Spokesman of the President, Director of the Press Service and Director of the Group of Policy Advisers of the EU Commission (2004-2009).

Member of the Italian Parliament (2006-2012), he was undersecretary of State to the Prime Minister in charge of publishing and information (2006-2008). As member of the Culture Committee in the Italian Parliament, he was first signatory and rapporteur of the Italian book price law, known in the country as “legge Levi” (Levi law).

His commitment in the cultural area also includes the past membership in the board of the Foundation for Jewish Cultural Heritage in Italy.

Ricardo (Italian mother tongue) speaks fluently English, Spanish and French.