Daria Illy exits the family coffee business

The Illy family completes the ownership structure of the holding company that controls IllyCaffè. In fact, Daria Illy is leaving the corporate structure and her 19% is being sold to the sub-holding Gruppo Illy Spa, equally controlled by her siblings Andrea and Anna Illy. Daria's father, Riccardo, had already exited the coffee business in October 2023, to concentrate on the Polo del Gusto brands.

After more than 16 years of active commitment to the Group, having previously left all operational positions in Group companies, "Daria Illy," reads a statement, "gratefully concludes her experience with the Group to devote herself to new professional challenges in the Italian and international context". Riccardo Illy's daughter will deal with ESG issues and projects abroad, with a particular focus on relations between Italy, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

After graduating from the University of Urbino and a master's degree in general management, Daria Illy first embarked on an entrepreneurial path in the world of consulting and wellness. She only joined the family business in 2009, focusing on an inclusive approach to leadership and a strong focus on sustainability. More than 16 years of her career led her first to International key account management, then to product development management as Portioned systems director. In 2017, she took over as CEO of Mitaca, a Group company that develops and distributes coffee and hot beverage systems for the office channel. In the same year, she joined the board of directors of Illycaffe, the board of the Ernesto Illy Foundation and the board of the Illy Group, where she remained until 2024.

Daria Illy is also a lecturer in courses and master's degrees, author of 'La grammatica del caffè' (Gribaudo), active in the inter-parliamentary commission on inclusion and sport, and ambassador of Azzurra, the national centre of excellence dedicated to research for rare childhood diseases.