New Delhi, July 15, 2025: Francesco Arezzo, a long-serving member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has officially assumed office as the President of Rotary International for 2025–26. He becomes the third Italian and the first from southern Italy to lead the global service organisation.
Under the theme “Unite for Good,” Arezzo plans to focus on advancing Rotary’s mission of unity and inclusion during his term. “Rotary’s greatest strength lies in its ability to unite people of all cultures and generations through a shared commitment to doing good,” said Arezzo. “As we look ahead, I am committed to building on this legacy – working together to advance peace, understanding, and opportunity around the world.”
Arezzo will also spearhead Rotary’s long-standing campaign to eradicate polio, a global initiative that has already reduced polio cases by 99.9% through more than US$2.6 billion in funding and widespread volunteer efforts to protect nearly 3 billion children.
Joining the leadership team from India are Flt. Lt. K.P. Nagesh and M. Muruganandam, who have taken office as Rotary International Directors for the 2025–27 term.
Flt. Lt. K.P. Nagesh, a decorated Indian Air Force veteran and past District Governor from Rotary Club of Bangalore Highgrounds, Karnataka, is known for record-breaking membership growth and impactful service projects. “India is one of the strongest pillars of Rotary’s global vision. From $6 million in fundraising a decade ago to $33 million in 2024 and growing, India is the second-largest global contributor,” said Nagesh. “Rotary's first Peace Center coming up at Symbiosis Pune is a powerful milestone—proof that India doesn’t just contribute to global peace, we now host and shape it.”
M. Muruganandam, a first-generation entrepreneur and educator from Tamil Nadu, started his Rotary journey at age 16 through Rotaract. His leadership has focused on youth empowerment, health care, literacy, and women’s safety. “Unite for Good is not just a theme—it’s a timely reminder that humanity is strongest when we act together,” said Muruganandam. “My vision is to make Rotary irresistible to the next generation by saying YES to youth leadership, YES to women at the forefront, and YES to safe, inclusive spaces for service.”
Rotary members in nearly 4,600 clubs across India, and over 46,000 clubs globally, continue to implement sustainable, community-driven projects focused on health, education, water access, economic development, environmental protection, and peacebuilding. Over the last 100 years, The Rotary Foundation has awarded more than US$5.5 billion to support such initiatives worldwide.
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