New board appoints Lorenzo Mariani as chief executive while creating co-general manager role under revised organisational structure.
Lorenzo Mariani, Leonardo CEO.
Leonardo appoints Lorenzo Mariani as new CEO: Italian aerospace and defence group Leonardo S.p.A. has appointed Lorenzo Mariani as its new Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, as the company unveiled a revised leadership and governance structure following the appointment of a new board of directors.
The company’s newly constituted board met for the first time in Rome under the chairmanship of Francesco Macrì, who was earlier elected chairman by shareholders during the company’s annual general meeting.
The leadership reshuffle comes as Leonardo continues to expand amid rising global defence demand, strong earnings growth and increasing strategic importance for European security and aerospace industries.
Under the new organisational framework, Macrì will retain legal representation of the company and oversee a range of strategically sensitive areas, including group security, national and international institutional relations, governance, anti-corruption oversight, sustainability and institutional communications.
The chairman will also supervise audit-related functions connected to Leonardo’s internal control and risk-management system.
Mariani Takes Operational Control of Group
The board granted Mariani broad executive authority over the management of both the company and the wider Leonardo group, excluding powers specifically reserved for the board under Italian corporate law and the company’s bylaws.
Mariani, who has previously held senior positions within Leonardo’s defence and electronics divisions, assumes leadership at a time when the company is benefiting from a sustained rise in defence expenditure across Europe and NATO countries.
Leonardo recently reported strong 2025 financial results, including double-digit growth in revenues, profits and order intake, driven by rising demand for defence electronics, helicopters, aeronautics and cybersecurity solutions.
The board also approved the creation of a new General Management Department reporting directly to the CEO.
Gian Piero Cutillo was appointed Co-General Manager and will lead the newly established structure.
The move is seen as part of Leonardo’s broader effort to streamline decision-making and strengthen operational coordination across its expanding defence, aerospace and technology businesses.
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Leonardo’s AW-149 military helicopter.
Board Confirms Independence of Directors
The board also completed a formal review of governance and independence requirements for directors under Italian law and the Corporate Governance Code.
Leonardo confirmed that all directors meet the required standards of integrity and are free from legal causes of ineligibility or incompatibility.
The company said non-executive chairman Macrì and a majority of board members were formally assessed as independent directors.
Those confirmed as independent include:
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Francesco Macrì
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Trifone Altieri
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Roberto Diacetti
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Enrica Giorgetti
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Elena Grifoni
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Dominique Levy
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Cristina Manara
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Francesco Soro
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Maurizio Tucci
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Elena Vasco
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Rosalba Veltri
The board specifically reviewed the position of Francesco Soro in relation to his role within Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance, concluding that it did not compromise his independence due to the ministry’s neutral and external relationship to the management of investee companies.
Leonardo said the Board of Statutory Auditors had verified the correct application of independence assessment criteria and governance procedures.
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CFO Giuseppe Aurilio Confirmed
The board also confirmed Giuseppe Aurilio as the officer responsible for corporate financial reporting under Italian financial regulations.
Aurilio, who serves as Leonardo’s Chief Financial Officer, will remain in the role for the duration of the current board’s mandate.
The company said internal board committees would be reconstituted at a future meeting.
Strategic Leadership Shift Comes Amid Defence Boom
The appointments mark a significant leadership transition for Leonardo at a time when Europe’s defence industry is experiencing rapid expansion driven by geopolitical tensions, military modernisation programmes and rising NATO defence spending.
Leonardo has emerged as one of Europe’s key aerospace and defence groups, with operations spanning defence electronics, military helicopters, cybersecurity, aeronautics and space technologies.
Analysts say the new leadership structure suggests the company is seeking stronger coordination between strategic governance, international institutional engagement and operational execution as it positions itself for further growth in global defence markets.
The creation of a co-general manager role and the concentration of institutional and security responsibilities under the chairman also indicate a greater emphasis on strategic oversight and geopolitical engagement in an increasingly complex international environment.
With robust financial results, an expanding order backlog and strengthening investor confidence, Leonardo enters its new governance cycle positioned as a central player in Europe’s evolving defence-industrial landscape.
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