Leonardo’s New Aeronautics Division To Be Led By Stefano Bortoli: Rome, Italy – May 6, 2025 – Italian aerospace and defense giant Leonardo today announced a significant restructuring with the formal establishment of a new, unified Aeronautics Division. Seasoned executive Stefano Bortoli has been appointed as the Managing Director to steer this consolidated entity, which aims to sharpen Leonardo’s competitive edge in both military and civil aviation sectors globally.
The creation of the Aeronautics Division is a strategic move, aligning with the development trajectory outlined in Leonardo’s industrial plan, first unveiled in March 2024. This consolidation merges the company’s existing Aerostructures and Aircraft divisions, bringing together a formidable workforce of over 11,000 employees.
The primary objective, as stated by Leonardo, is to accelerate the execution of its strategies across key aeronautical domains. This includes bolstering its product portfolio in aerostructures and fixed-wing aircraft, and significantly advancing its capabilities in the rapidly evolving Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) market. The company aims to reaffirm its position as a pivotal player in the aeronautics industry not only in Italy and Europe but on the international stage.
This new, streamlined division is expected to enhance the management of international strategic partnerships, a crucial component of Leonardo’s growth strategy. The company is already a key participant in major European defense programs, including the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), and has recently signaled ambitions to strengthen its role in the unmanned sector, notably through a strategic partnership with Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar, announced in March 2025. This collaboration is anticipated to leverage Baykar’s proven unmanned platforms with Leonardo’s expertise in mission systems and electronics.
Stefano Bortoli will lead the new division.
Stefano Bortoli, who previously served as the Managing Director of Leonardo’s Aerostructures Division since January 2023, brings a wealth of experience to his new role. His prior leadership included navigating the challenges and opportunities within the aerostructures market, including its significant role as a supplier for major commercial programs like the Boeing 787. Before leading Aerostructures, Bortoli also held the position of CEO at ATR, the regional aircraft manufacturer, a joint venture between Airbus and Leonardo. His extensive background in both the commercial and defense aerospace sectors, as well as in corporate strategy, positions him to lead the newly formed division’s ambitious agenda.
The March 2024 industrial plan, which underpins this reorganization, emphasizes digitalization, innovation, and efficiency. Leonardo is targeting double-digit profitability by 2026 and aims to transform into a technology-driven global leader in aerospace, defense, and security. The plan also highlighted the importance of strengthening core businesses, with a particular focus on aircraft, and achieving a recovery in the Aerostructures segment, which has faced market pressures in recent years.
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The Aeronautics Division will be instrumental in driving the development of enabling technologies to support the next generation of multi-domain aeronautical systems. This focus aligns with the evolving global security landscape, which demands increasingly sophisticated and interconnected aerial capabilities. By integrating its aircraft and aerostructures expertise, Leonardo aims to create greater synergies, optimize research and development, and enhance its capacity to deliver cutting-edge solutions to its global customer base.
The move is seen by industry analysts as a logical step for Leonardo to streamline its operations, enhance efficiency, and bolster its market presence in an increasingly competitive and technologically advancing global aerospace sector. The success of this new division under Bortoli’s leadership will be crucial in achieving the strategic objectives laid out in Leonardo’s ambitious industrial plan.
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