Anthony Di Pietro

Anthony Di Pietro
Di Pietro addresses the audience at a Melbourne Victory Function
Born	(1969-02-15) 15 February 1969 (age 56) Frankston, Victoria, Australia
Nationality	Australian
Occupation(s)	Businessman CEO and Director of Premier Fresh Australia (2003–) Chairman of Melbourne Victory Football Club (2011–2023) Director of Australian Fresh Produce Alliance (2019–) Director of Essendon Football Club (2025–)
Known for	Chairman of Melbourne Victory FC

Anthony Di Pietro (born 15 February 1969) is an Australian businessman who is most known for his longest standing chairmanship of Melbourne Victory FC. Alongside the Victory, Di Pietro is also the Chief Executive Officer and a board member of industry leading fruit & vegetable producers and marketers, Premier Fresh Australia, and Australian rules football club, Essendon.

Early life and education

Di Pietro is a University of Melbourne alumni holding a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has delivered the occasional address to the graduating students in the university's Business and Economics faculty. ^[1] He attended John Paul College for high school.

Agribusiness

Di Pietro is Group CEO of Premier Fresh Australia. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]}

The company's farming and marketing enterprises ^{[8] [9]} cover all major Australian markets. It has farming operations in Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Goulburn Valley Victoria.

Di Pietro voiced his advocacy for an 'Australian-led Asian food boom' and was a key participant in the Victorian Government's 2013 Food Trade initiatives into Asia. ^[10]

In March 2019, Di Pietro was a founding director of the Australian Fresh Produce Alliance and is still active as of October 2025. ^[11] For the 2021 calendar year, Di Pietro served as Chair. ^[12]

Melbourne Victory FC

Di Pietro alongside Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium in October 2013

Di Pietro was appointed to the Board of Melbourne Victory FC in 2006 during its formative years and became chairman in January 2011, until June 2023. ^{[13] [14] [15]}

Di Pietro oversaw a number of key achievements, including the men's history making trophy treble in 2015 (Championship, Premiership and FFA Cup) and the 2017–18 Championship,as well as winning the Australia Cup titles in 2015 and 2021. ^[16] Di Pietro also oversaw Victory’s women’s team win the Premiership in 2018–19 and three Championships including back to back titles in 2020–21 and 2021–22, making Melbourne Victory FC one of the most successful clubs in A-Leagues history.

Di Pietro oversaw the visit of European heavyweights Liverpool in July 2013 attracting a record crowd for a football (soccer) match of 95,446 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, ^{[17] [18] [19] [20] [21]} as well as hosting Juventus in 2016 ^{[22] [23]} and Manchester United in 2022. ^{[24] [25]}

Essendon FC

On 30 October 2025, Di Pietro was announced as a director of the Essendon Football Club. ^{[26] [27] [28]}

References

1. Di Pietro, Anthony (November 2013). "Be prepared for change". Insights: Melbourne Business and Economics. The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Business & Economics. Archived from the original on 27 January 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2014.
2. "Premier Fruits Group ripe for expansion". The Australian. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
3. "Reference at www.theaustralian.com.au".
4. "Ripe for innovation: a company reaping the benefits of progress". 26 August 2020.
5. "A-League: Victory chairman says virus crisis is 'biggest fiscal threat'". 24 March 2020.
6. "LaManna Group and Premier Fruits Group to merge".
7. Di Pietro inside produce powerhouse weeklytimesnow.com.au ^{[ dead link ]}
8. Goodwin, Sandra. "Victorian tomato grower joins Premier Group". News Ltd. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
9. Thistleton, Rebecca. "Tomato growers sign deal for all seasons" . Retrieved 3 September 2012.
10. Stensholt, John. "Di Pietro encourages food industry to think big" . Retrieved 29 July 2013.
11. https://freshproduce.org.au/about/
12. https://www.fruitnet.com/produce-plus/afpa-elects-anthony-di-pietro-as-chair/184076.article
13. "Anthony Di Pietro retires as Chairman of Melbourne Victory". Melbourne Victory. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
14. "Victory chairman Di Pietro steps down after 13 years". ESPN.com. 1 June 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
15. https://freshproduce.org.au/media-releases/lpgceonewafpachair/
16. "Victory's historic FFA Cup Final triumph". FFA Cup. 7 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
17. "They didn't walk alone". 25 July 2013.
18. "VIDEO: Liverpool in Melbourne". 24 April 2013.
19. "Liverpool to make first trip Down Under". 3 April 2013.
20. "LFC announce first visit to Australia - Liverpool FC". 2 April 2013.
21. Hogan, Jesse. "Victory wave on sea of Red". The Age. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
22. "Juventus v Melbourne Victory: Crowd disappointing but still positives for International Champions Cup". Fox Sports. 23 July 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
23. "Victory's Sebastian Pasquali emerges into limelight during win over Juventus". The Guardian. 24 July 2016. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 8 August 2023.
24. "Melbourne Victory FC vs Manchester United FC | Melbourne Victory". melbournevictory.com.au. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
25. "Match report: Victory 1-4 Manchester United". Melbourne Victory. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
26. "Anthony Di Pietro joins Essendon Board". Essendon Football Club . 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
27. "Former Melbourne Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro joins Essendon's board". Seven News . 30 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.
28. "Former club soccer boss joins Bombers board". The Warrnambool Standard. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 31 October 2025.