Marisa Merico was the daughter of one of Italy’s most notorious Mafia Godfathers, Emilio DiGiovine. To her he was all powerful, sophisticated and loving; to the rest of the world he was staggeringly ruthless. Born to an English mother, Marisa Merico turned her back on her quiet life in Blackpool... Read more
Marisa Merico was the daughter of one of Italy’s most notorious Mafia Godfathers, Emilio DiGiovine. To her he was all powerful, sophisticated and loving; to the rest of the world he was staggeringly ruthless.
Born to an English mother, Marisa Merico turned her back on her quiet life in Blackpool to join Emilio DiGiovine, who had spent years trying to tempt her back to Italy. Arriving in Milan, Marisa had no idea she was returning to the heart of one of the most notorious drugs, arms and money laundering empires in the world. Marisa was drawn ever deeper into the family’s sinister and brutal regime, witnessing things she was too scared to believe. She eloped with her father’s chief henchman and her father decided she should be initiated into the true nature of the family business. Merico saw there was no limit to what he would expect her to do for him.
When the family were betrayed, her father and 90 other members of the DiGiovine family were imprisoned in a 6-month trial that gripped Italy. Merico served time in prison in both England and Italy, and was released from prison in 1998. Whilst in prison, she was a high security prisoner due to her family connections, which made her prison experience significantly different to the journey other women experience when incarcerated. An advocate for prison reform she is committed to changing the prison system and helping other women who have experience in the criminal justice system.
Marisa Merico is now out of prison and lives in Blackpool with her daughter & son. She is a businesswoman and is currently completing an undergraduate degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Lancaster University. She also works in the voluntary sector, with women at the Lancashire Women’s Centre.
Marisa Merico’s extraordinary story is the most powerful portrayal of a Mafia family to emerge in recent years. It’s the perfect balance of shocking violence, dangerous betrayals and enduring love.
She frequently talks about her unique experiences at events, using her expertise to give her view on organised crime and the grim realities of prison life. Merico has written a book about her life and engages in media work, detailing her experiences of the Mafia and prison. She is currently working on a media based project about her life.
You can book Marisa Merico through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Marisa's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Marisa Merico's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Marisa tailored to your event.
Marisa Merico speaks on Security. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Marisa to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Marisa Merico for events worldwide, subject to Marisa's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Marisa Merico is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Marisa can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Marisa Merico on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Marisa can offer.
Marisa Merico delivers keynotes in English, Italian. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Marisa Merico's areas of expertise include Security. To get a clear sense of Marisa's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Marisa Merico can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Security is relevant. Details of Marisa's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Marisa Merico is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Marisa Merico, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Marisa's current availability for your dates.