Held on the Italian Riviera, the inaugural summit in 2026 convened institutional investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers and financiers for three days of debate on geopolitics, European competitiveness, infrastructure, energy and long-term capital allocation. Special guests included Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State and Director of the CIA, and Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy.

The event reflects Optimum’s ambition to engage with investors in a different way: by creating a platform where private markets, institutional capital and global political developments can be discussed together, and where decision-makers can exchange views on the opportunities and challenges that will shape the coming decade.

From Iran and China, to Europe and financing the real economy

The inaugural Portofino Conversation focused on the geopolitical and economic issues facing investment decision-makers.

Discussions examined the implications of US-China competition, the war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East and the need for stronger Europe-US co-operation on security, technology, cybersecurity, energy and critical infrastructure.

Europe’s competitiveness was also examined, including the role of infrastructure, energy security, strategic autonomy and industrial policy in supporting long-term growth.

A further strand of the programme focused on the role of savings, pension funds and institutional capital in financing the real economy – and how policy, governance and investment might work together to strengthen economic resilience.

Speaker highlights

Keynote Address
Mike Pompeo, former United States Secretary of State and Director of the CIA, delivered a keynote address on the geopolitical challenges facing the West, covering China, Iran, Ukraine, the Middle East and Europe-US security cooperation.

Italy’s Growth and Competitiveness
Matteo Renzi, former Prime Minister of Italy, together with Edoardo Rixi, Matilde Siracusano, Ilaria Cavo and other senior institutional speakers, discussed Italy’s opportunities and structural challenges, with a focus on growth, competitiveness, infrastructure and reform.

Regional Development and Strategic Autonomy
Marco Bucci, President of the Liguria Region, and Roberto Occhiuto, President of the Calabria Region, discussed regional development and investment, while Antonio Gozzi addressed industrial policy, competitiveness and Europe’s strategic autonomy.

Savings, Pension Funds and the Real Economy
Paolo Perrone, President of CDP Equity, and Hon. Alberto Bagnai, Chairman of the Oversight Committee on Pension Management Bodies, discussed the role of savings, pension governance and long-term capital in supporting infrastructure, industry and the real economy.

Closing Reflections
Optimum Asset Management closed the event with reflections on the importance of building a forum for meaningful dialogue between investors, policymakers and business leaders, and the growing interconnection between geopolitics, growth, investment and competitiveness.
LinkedIn Post >

Media coverage

The Portofino Conversation 2026 generated strong media interest, with journalists attending onsite and coverage secured across Italian, international and financial media. The media attention reflected the calibre of the speakers and the relevance of the summit’s core themes.

Some of the coverage highlights include:

• Il Sole 24 Ore – Optimum Asset Management: Three days of high finance and geopolitics in Rapallo
• Brief Glance – The Portofino Conversation: Where Global Politics Shapes Private Equity
• Italpress – From Pompeo to Renzi, a global economic debate at the Optimum Investors Summit
• Businesswire – Optimum Asset Management’s Investor Summit in Portofino brings together Mike Pompeo, Matteo Renzi and leaders across government, finance and industry to discuss the future of the global economy and geopolitics