Francesco Arezzo, a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected to serve as president of Rotary International for the 2025–26 term.
He will officially take office on July 1, 2025, following the sudden resignation of president-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo on June 8.
The Rotary International (RI) Board of Directors convened a special session to choose Arezzo, in accordance with the organisation’s code and policies.
Candidates were drawn from the pool considered by the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in August 2023.
Arezzo’s appointment comes at a moment of unusual transition for the global service organisation.
The unexpected leadership change triggered a rarely used emergency selection process, which highlights the stability of Rotary’s internal governance and its ability to respond quickly in times of uncertainty.
The 2025–26 theme Unite for Good—announced earlier this year at the Rotary International Assembly—will remain unchanged during Arezzo’s term.
The message calls on Rotary members to foster unity and understanding in a world increasingly fragmented by politics, geography and ideology.
With 1.4 million members across over 200 countries and territories, Rotary remains one of the largest and most diverse non-governmental networks.
Its mission to build bridges through community service and international collaboration is seen as increasingly vital in today’s divided global landscape.
Arezzo is an orthodontist with a private practice in Sicily and a prominent figure in international dental circles.
He is a member of the Italian, European and American orthodontics associations, and serves as vice president of the National Association of Italian Dentists for the province of Ragusa.
He also led the local delegation of the National Trust for Italy for seven years and is a Knight of Honor and Devotion in Obedience within the Sovereign Order of Malta.
His background reflects a blend of professional excellence and civic commitment, with experience in both healthcare and cultural heritage.
He is no stranger to Rotary’s strategic operations. Over his three decades of service, Arezzo has held multiple leadership roles, including RI director, vice chair of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee, learning facilitator and district conference presidential representative.
His familiarity with Rotary’s institutional challenges and long-term goals is expected to help ensure continuity in programs such as polio eradication, peacebuilding and fundraising for The Rotary Foundation.
Arezzo is a Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation. He is married to Anna Maria Criscione, an entrepreneur in the tourism industry. The couple has two children.