Media: Italy eyes replacing defence group Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani

Italy is reportedly considering replacing Roberto Cingolani as CEO of defence group Leonardo, according to Reuters.

The leadership change comes at a critical time as the company competes for defence and aerospace contracts amid the war in Ukraine and escalating conflict in the Middle East.

The Italian Ministry of Economy, which owns more than 30% of Leonardo’s shares, is expected to submit a shortlist of candidates to the board of directors by April 13.

Lorenzo Mariani, former Leonardo executive and current managing director of MBDA Italy, is said to be the leading contender.

Both Leonardo and MBDA declined to comment.

The move is part of a broader wave of leadership changes in state-controlled companies, including Enel and Eni.

Under Cingolani, Leonardo shifted its focus from traditional defence to digitalisation, cybersecurity, and advanced air defence systems—a transformation he described as moving “from bullets to bytes.”

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov