Gianni Letta

Giovanni "Gianni" Letta (born 15 April 1935) is an Italian journalist and politician. He was a close advisor of Silvio Berlusconi and is a member of the advisory board of Goldman Sachs International.

Biography After graduating in law, he started working as a journalist for several daily newspapers, as well as RAI and ANSA. He was editor-in-law of Il Tempo from 1973 to 1987; that year, he left the newspaper in order to enter into the Fininvest group owned by Silvio Berlusconi. He hosted a number of TV programmes, especially on Canale 5.

After Berlusconi's entry into politics, Letta became undersecretary of the first government led by Berlusconi in 1994, an office he took again from 2001 to 2006, and from 2008 to 2011. In 2010, CNN referred to Letta as "Berlusconi's right-hand man." Among Letta's duties for Berlusconi include co-ordinating the Italian government's activities with the Holy See. Chairman of Goldman Sachs International Peter Sutherland said in the press statement that Letta was "an exceptional talent, with political experience and profound knowledge of Italian politics and the Italian and international market."

Honours and awards Grand Cross Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2002) Knight Grand Cross of the Pian Order (2005) Papal gentleman (2008) Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour (2009) Gold Collar for Sporting Merit (2015)