An analysis of the resumes of Italian public managers shows that they are very old (54.8 years of age, total average), their origin (and education) is from the Center and South of the country, with legal education and limited experience internationally and outside of the public administration. More than one-third of top managers are women: on this point, the central public administration has a better gender balance than the private sector.#It is advisable to redefine a cultural profile of managers that is more consistent with the needs of the public administration, that although it has been increasingly delegitimized, remains a critical and unavoidable factor in the social, economic, and cultural life of Italy.