Maria Emilia la Forgia

Maria Emilia La Forgia is the Chief Audit Officer of the Banca Generali Group, where she leads the Internal Audit Function, renamed Chief Audit Office as of February 2025. She holds a degree in Business Administration and a specialization in Corporate Finance, Administration, and Control from Bocconi University in Milan, and has built a solid career in the financial sector.

She began her professional journey in 2007 at PwC as a consultant, gaining experience in auditing large corporations.

In 2011, she joined UniCredit within the Group Audit function, where she conducted audit activities on both the Italian bank and the Group, and coordinated risk assessment, planning, and reporting processes. In 2016, she moved to Deutsche Bank, where she held roles of increasing responsibility in both Group Audit and Compliance. There, she coordinated audit activities across various business divisions and the commercial network, as well as governance, infrastructure, and control functions.

Throughout her career, she has developed strong expertise in risk management and financial auditing, process analysis, project management, organizational change management, and the promotion of risk culture. She is actively involved as a speaker and lecturer in initiatives promoted by industry associations, including the Italian Banking Association (ABI), the Italian Association of Internal Auditors (AIIA), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). She is also a member of technical committees within the Italian Private Banking Association (AIPB).

As of June 2025, she is a member of the AIIA Election Committee.