Joseph Grano’s Italian Heritage
Nothing could take the Italian out of American business leader Joseph J. Grano, Jr. The Italian has effectively adapted to life in the United States, establishing businesses here and getting jobs there. But in all these, he never turned his back on his heritage. In 1998, his fellow Italian-Americans presented him the La Bellissima America Award for representing them well. Grano, at present, is part of the Council for the United States and Italy. Then again, Joseph Grano can switch to his best Americana impression anytime. Deferring to his geographical loyalties, Grano once served as chairman of the Homeland Security Advisory Council under former President George W. Bush. Business-wise, Joseph Grano’s interests also belong in America. He is a chairperson and CEO in the country, for a company called Century Holdings LLC. Prior to this, he held high ranking positions in some of the country’s top financial companies like Merrill Lynch and PaineWebber. He even used to be the president of PaineWebber Group, which he transformed into UBS Financial Services. Joseph Grano once chaired the National Association of Securities Dealers’ Board of Governors. He was also a member of Lenox Hill Hospital’s Board of Directors and the City University of New York’s Business Leadership Council. Grano also vice-chaired the Board of Trustees of the Queens College Foundation.