Born in 1968, Resta graduated in 1992 in Mechanical Engineering from Politecnico di Milano. His academic career led him in 2004 to become Full Professor of Applied Mechanics. In 2007, he was appointed Director of the Department of Mechanical Engineering and later, in 2011, Delegate for Technology Transfer, a strategic role in the relationship with businesses. In 2017, he became Rector of Politecnico di Milano. He has been President of the Conference of Italian University Rectors. Resta has authored over 300 publications and holds 10 patents.

In the industrial community and Italian social fabric, Ferruccio Resta holds various positions. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Allianz SpA, the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, Il Sole 24 Ore, and Fiera Milano.
He also holds the position of expert member of the Technical Structure at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Ferruccio Resta is President of the Politecnico di Milano Foundation, the Bruno Kessler Foundation, and the National Center for Sustainable Mobility, MOST. In 2019, he was awarded the title of Commander of the Italian Republic by President Sergio Mattarella.