Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa began his career in his home country of Italy as

a real estate developer and leading financial journalist. He first specialized in international monetary policy before segueing into international finance in Switzerland and London.

 

In 1987, Pignatelli brought his skills as an investment banker to New York. After working as a Managing Director for several major investment banking and brokerage firms — including E.F. Hutton, Ladenburg & Thalmann, and Gruntal Co. — Pignatelli founded

EuroCapital Partners, a bicoastal technology-based investment banking firm.

 

Following several successful and rewarding years in the investment banking business, Pignatelli pursued his enduring passion for photography — leading him to create

PIER59 STUDIOS from a large abandoned pier on the Hudson River in Manhattan in 1995.
 

At heart, Pignatelli is a photographer, film maker, designer and architect. In addition

to conceiving PIER59 STUDIOS, Pignatelli also redesigned the profile and interiors of his

two yachts and two homes in New York and Los Angeles. These properties also feature furniture conceived and curated by Pignatelli himself.

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In November of 2014, Pignatelli created his book and accompanying film, The Great Beauty. Both previewed at the 20th anniversary event in October of 2015.