Maria Porro, head of marketing and communication of Porro S.p.A., the historical brand of Italian design founded by her great-grandfather Giulio back in 1925, is the new president of Assarredo. Unanimously elected by the General Assembly last September 8, she is the first woman to assume this role.

Advisor of Assarredo for 4 years, from the decision to face the challenges of her work not only from the corporate perspective but also from the associative one, Maria Porro intends to face the new position with the passion, professionalism, creativity, method and dedication that has always driven her, focusing on teamwork, the sharing of skills and the ability to listen so as to achieve together the set objectives.
Environmental sustainability, proactive role in defining the rules governing the sector, protecting the originality of Italian furniture on the global market, safeguarding the Salone del Mobile, scouting new markets, developing new technologies and a greater digital culture, up to dialogue with the school, are the cornerstones of her program for an association in step with the times.

“I am convinced that creating a system is fundamental and that it requires a personal involvement. The complexity and the need to respond quickly to transformations, as the latest health emergency has proved, are characteristics of our time. For me, being a contemporary entrepreneur passes through a great passion for my profession and roots, a hunger for innovation and the ability to scan the horizon to see the opportunities within change. All characteristics that are reinforced by the interchange between different companies and which, put at the service of common clear and achievable objectives, can strengthen our system and make it grow".

Born in Como in 1983, graduated cum laude in Set Design at Brera’s Academy of Fine Arts, Maria has worked in the world of theatre, art and great events as a designer, coordinator and curator. She has worked as a production supervisor at the opening ceremonies of London 2012 and Sochi 2014’s Olympic games, and she has also collaborated as a costume and set designer with the main Italian and international theatres.
She has always been in contact with her family business and with the world of design, collaborating above all with her father Lorenzo in the product development area and with the studio Lissoni Associati in stylistic research and in the development of new products, personally following the company's presentations at the Salone del Mobile.
In 2014 she decided to join Porro permanently, focusing on strengthening the international commercial network and renewing communication strategies, up to assuming the current position, with the energy typical of the new generations and priority attention to sustainable development.
In 2017 she promoted Porro's entry into Altagamma, the Foundation gathering excellent companies from the Italian cultural and creative industry, where since 2019 she has actively represented the company within the Board of Directors. In 2017 she joined the Board of Advisors of Assarredo and since 2019 she is part of the General Council of FederlegnoArredo.