The new board of directors of Fedecámaras, from left to right: Celso Fantinel (treasurer), Tiziana Polesel (first vice president), Felipe Capozzolo (president), and Rafael Trejo (second vice president). Photo: Fedecámaras.
Guacamaya, July 19, 2025. In a tightly contested election, the 81st Annual Assembly of Fedecámaras, held in the city of Valencia, elected Felipe Capozzolo as its new president for the 2025–2027 term. Capozzolo, who had served as the organization’s First Vice President, won by just two votes over Luigi Pisella, former president of Conindustria, with a final tally of 87 to 85.
In one of the closest races in the federation’s history, the assembly—gathering more than 500 national and regional delegates—included a nominal recount requested by delegates, which confirmed the narrow margin. Although the statutes allow for a runoff, Pisella declined to exercise that right, solidifying Capozzolo’s victory.
Paradoxically, the new board led by Capozzolo is composed of members originally proposed by Pisella’s electoral slate, reflecting a climate of internal competitiveness and plurality. Thus, Tiziana Polesel (former Second Vice President) was elected as First Vice President, Rafael Trejo (former Treasurer) moved up to Second Vice President, and Celso Fantinel (former president of Fedeagro) will serve as Treasurer.
Felipe Capozzolo is a mechanical engineer, graduated from Simón Bolívar University in 2001, with a specialization in Project Management from UCAB in 2007. He is recognized for his leadership as president of Consecomercio from 2019 to 2021, and his steady rise in the Fedecámaras board, where he served as Second Vice President (2021–2023) and First Vice President (2023–2025).
“This is the moment to unite more than ever and seek spaces for dialogue with all social actors and the national government to resolve the challenges affecting private enterprise and society,” stated Capozzolo in his first message after being elected. He added that it is the union’s responsibility to work toward increasing the country’s purchasing power.
Capozzolo also emphasized that the first 100 days of his administration will focus on tackling the service crisis and high operational costs. He will also coordinate the presentation of the promised National Investment and Employment Plan to the national government. This plan, developed during the campaign, is the outcome of more than 140 meetings held with Fedecámaras’ grassroots across the country.
