Optimum Asset Management Hosts Strategic Summit in Portofino with Pompeo, Renzi and Global Leaders on Geopolitics and Economic Future

• Mike Pompeo addressed geopolitical risks including China, Iran, Ukraine and Europe-US security cooperation.

• Matteo Renzi, Edoardo Rixi and senior government representatives joined discussions on European competitiveness, infrastructure and energy.

• The summit convened institutional investors, entrepreneurs and financial market professionals to discuss the future of the global economy.

RAPALLO, Italy, June 16, 2026–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The inaugural Optimum Investors Summit – The Portofino Conversation, led by European real estate private equity firm Optimum Asset Management and its Italian partners Alberto Matta, Rodolfo Misitano, Enrico Imbraguglio and Andrea Suriano, drew strong participation from institutional investors, pension funds, entrepreneurs, government officials and financial market professionals.

Over three days, the Italian Riviera served as a focal point for discussions on critical economic, geopolitical and financial trends reshaping the global landscape. Sessions were moderated by Andrea Ruggeri, former spokesman for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, alongside Paolo Liguori, covering a range of topics examining the evolving global environment.

The success of this debut edition establishes The Portofino Conversation as a new forum for strategic dialogue among decision-makers from government, finance and industry, fostering substantive exchanges on the opportunities and challenges defining the coming decade.

Opening the debate were prominent figures in international politics and economics. Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State and CIA Director, provided extensive analysis on 21st-century geopolitical challenges, with particular focus on the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, Iran’s role and U.S.-Europe security cooperation.

“The core strategic challenge isn’t Russia—it’s the Chinese Communist Party,” Pompeo stated. According to the former U.S. Secretary of State, Beijing represents a systemic threat to liberal democracies and the economic foundations of the Western world. “Xi Jinping doesn’t believe in private property. Any business relationship with a Chinese company equals doing business with the Chinese Communist Party.”

Pompeo emphasized strengthened transatlantic cooperation and increased investment in defense and security. “Our relationships are institutional and extend beyond individual leaders. Yet every nation must do more to protect its sovereignty—not just militarily, but in technology, cybersecurity, energy and critical infrastructure.”

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Regarding the Middle East, the former CIA Director expressed skepticism about normalizing ties with Iran. “The Iranians have breached every agreement they’ve signed. The regime must change. If, in two or three years, we still have the same government in Tehran with an active nuclear program, we’ll have missed a historic opportunity.”

Participants included Senator Matteo Renzi, former Italian Prime Minister, Deputy Minister Edoardo Rixi, Undersecretaries Claudio Durigon and Matilde Siracusano, Liguria Region President Marco Bucci, Calabria Region President Roberto Occhiuto, representatives from Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, and Antonio Gozzi, Chairman of Duferco and head of Federacciai and Confindustria’s European Strategic Autonomy initiative. These contributions drove high-level discourse on European competitiveness, infrastructure, energy, investment and global economic growth prospects.

“Our goal was to create an event that would engage investors differently,” said the partners of Optimum Asset Management. “We aimed to build a platform for meaningful dialogue, bringing together individuals with diverse experiences and perspectives. Economics, growth, investment, geopolitics and competitiveness were central to the discussions. We believe the outcome was extremely successful.”

Strong attendance and coverage by major national broadcasters and leading print media confirmed growing international financial community interest in initiatives combining strategic insight, high-level networking and substantive discussion on issues shaping the global economy’s future.

Contacts

Andrea Suriano, Managing Partner: andrea.suriano@optimumam.com, +44 7740870806
optimumam.com

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