Stefano Zara was born in Genoa on December 11th, 1937. In 1962, he graduated in Law with full marks at Genoa University. He is married and father of two.
Right after his graduation, he started working as a manager for major national and international industrial companies. He worked as the HR Director for a major international group, and then for
Terni, a company of Iri-Finsider group. In 1977 he was appointed Central Director of HR at Ansaldo. In 1983 he founded Metis spa, a major company for management consulting in the Genoese area, and was at first its managing director, then its president.
Stefano Zara was the president of Ponente Sviluppo and of Sogea (the training school of Assindustria Genova), and member of the Assessment Committee of Genoa University. He is currently a Board Member of Rimorchiatori Riuniti spa, of Grandi Navi Veloci spa and of Fondazione Gaslini; he was also a member of the Council and of the Board of Genoa Chamber of Commerce. He is currently a councillor of IIC (International Institute for Communications) and of Consorzio Transpadana. On October 11th, 2000, he was appointed the President of Assindustria Genova.
In 1996 he took part in the foundation of the political coalition Ulivo, and became its regional coordinator in Liguria.
On October 24th, 2004 he became member of the Parliament, and he is currently a member of the Commission for Productive Activities.