Stefano Barone is an accomplished investigative professional with over 15 years of expertise in tackling financial crimes and enhancing organizational compliance. As a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), he brings a rigorous analytical approach to his work, underpinned by a deep understanding of complex fraud schemes and the latest anti-fraud technologies.

Stefano holds a Master’s degree in Law from Pegaso University and is currently a member of the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime (GITOC) expert network, where he focuses on anti-money laundering, organised crime and countering the financing of terrorism. His strategic initiatives in the fight against corruption and counterfeiting are instrumental in maintaining the integrity of financial systems.

Previously, as Senior Legal Counsel at the Investigatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee, Stefano played a key role in enhancing ethical compliance across international football. He was in charge of assessing and investigating misconduct, including fraud, harassment, embezzlement, conflict of interest, corruption, abuse of position, and match manipulation, managing significant disciplinary proceedings. In this role, he also played a key role in the establishment of the first FIFA Integrity Task Force for a World Cup competition (Qatar 2022), working with stakeholders such as Interpol, the FBI, UNODC, the Council of Europe and national law enforcement agencies.

His tenure as Project Manager at the World Customs Organisation (WCO) was pivotal, where he led Project Tentacle, an AML/CTF initiative that enhanced international cooperation against economic crime.

As a Chief Investigator at the Guardia di Finanza in Turin, Stefano led high-profile cases involving VAT fraud, money laundering, and corruption, leading to substantial asset recoveries and criminal prosecutions.

Stefano is widely recognized for his expertise and has delivered specialized training to law enforcement and financial institutions globally, focusing on investigative techniques and best practices to combat financial crimes.