Our Team - oriGIn | Organization for an International Geographical Indications Network

Mr. Riccardo Deserti

PRESIDENT

Riccardo Deserti is the President of oriGIn. Since 2012, Riccardo is the Director General of Consorzio Parmigiano Reggiano, in charge of the overall management of the organization.

Previously he worked at the Italian Ministry of Agriculture Food and Forestry Policies, covering, among others, the position of Chief of the Technical Secretariat of the Minister and Director General of the General Directorate of quality of agricultural products and GIs. He also worked at the Nomisma SpA, a major italian economic research institute, holding the position of Chief Executive Officer. Riccardo has a Degree in Agricultural Sciences from the University of Bologna (Italy).

His leadership integrates strategic vision, sustainability, and territorial development, making him a leading global voice in the defense of Geographical Indications and GI Groups management.

Mr. Massimo Vittori

MANAGING director

Massimo Vittori is the Managing Director of oriGIn, in charge of the Organization’s strategic planning and overall management.

Massimo previously worked as legal advisor at the International Trade Center (ITC) – a technical assistance agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations – where he was in charge of several projects in the field of intellectual property, trade law harmonization, model contacts for SMEs and alternative business dispute resolution mechanisms. Massimo also worked at the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on the improvement of developing countries’ investment climate through regulatory reforms.

Following his Bachelor Degree in International Relations, Massimo obtained a Master’s Degree in International Law at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies of Geneva and an LL.M. in Intellectual Property at the University of Turin.

Massimo regularly delivers seminars on GIs, trademarks and trade related issues in several European Universities.

Ms. Ida Puzone

Deputy director

Ida Puzone is the Deputy Director at oriGIn. She works closely with the Managing Director to implement the organization’s strategic priorities and initiatives. Ida leads the development of specific projects and coordinates relationships with oriGIn members and key stakeholders worldwide.

Ida began her career at an Italian law firm. Following this, after a period at the international group “Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi Spa,” she moved to the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM, now EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain, where she focused on intellectual property.

Ida holds a law degree from the University Federico II in Naples, Italy, and an LL.M in Intellectual Property and Information Technology (Magister Lvcentinvs) from the University of Alicante.

Ms Amandine Legros

EU Representative

Amandine Legros is the representative of oriGIn in Brussels. She is in charge of the relations with the European Institutions and stakeholders at the European level.

Amandine recently joined Insight Consulting. She provides political advice to oriGIn and to several French and Italian associations of geographical indications producers and advises them on their communication campaigns and their relations with European Institutions. Her expertise covers questions linked to intellectual property, agriculture, environment, and trade. Previously she worked for a European trade association representing the spirit sector. She also gained experience working in a French prefectural cabinet.

She holds a degree in International Relations from the University of Geneva as well as a master’s degree from the Institute for European Studies in Brussels.

Mr. Luis Fernando Samper

Sustainability manager

Luis Samper is the Sustainability Manager of oriGIn. He has over 15 years of experience in Geographical Indications and sustainability matters. He also does consultancy work in the field of GIs and IP strategy, has written a number of academic articles on the subject, and has been instrumental, with the support of FAO, to develop oriGIn´s sustainability strategy for GIs.

Previously, he successfully led the process of defense and recognition process of Café de Colombia as a Protected Geographical Indication in the European Union and Switzerland, the first non-European GI to obtain such recognition, and Certification Mark status in the United States and Canada. He also coordinated the launch of Café de Colombia´s sustainability reports, starting in 2011. He also was president of Origin between 2005 and 2009.

Luis´ academic background includes an Economics degree and an MSc in Law, an MBA and a specialization in Intangible Valuation. He is co-author of different academic papers published in international journals, such as Food Policy, WIPO Working papers and the Journal of the Commons, and of the book “Juan Valdez, the Strategy Behind the Brand”. He has been invited by European Union, WIPO and several domestic associations as lead speaker or panelist on Geographical Indications in several conferences, seminars and forums in the Americas, Asia and Europe.