Spezia – a club competing in the Serie B league – has come under the control of US entrepreneur Thomas Roberts. A new era has begun, yet there are also some confirmations within the Board of Directors despite the share transfer. One of these concerns the figure of Carmelo Stillitano, known as Charlie, who was already on the board as vice president and now assumes the role of president of the Ligurian club.

Stillitano was born in New Jersey 65 years ago. His father, originally from Gioia Tauro, was one of the founders of the Italian-American Soccer League and president of the Soccer Referee Association of New Jersey. His life was dedicated to sports from the beginning: first as a player through high school and college experiences, then as a businessman. After earning his law degree, he became the General Manager of the New York/New Jersey MetroStars. It was Stillitano who organized the 1994 FIFA World Cup events, effectively bringing the excitement of soccer to the United States.

Until 2021, Stillitano served as executive chairman of Relevent Sports, an agency focused on growing soccer in North America and Asia, and in recent years, it has organized the International Champions Cup, a summer intercontinental friendly tournament that has also involved several Italian clubs.

The US executive was also one of James Pallotta’s closest collaborators during his presidency at AS Roma. Among his recent roles was working with Serie A offices in the United States as part of a broader plan to expand Italy's top league in the States, which could include dedicated bars and even a competition for under-12 teams.