A senior official at Italy’s economy ministry has been picked to become the new chairman of Italian shipbuilding giant Fincantieri.
Biagio Mazzotta, who has been Italy’s state accountant general, replaces Claudio Graziano who was found dead at his home in June.
Mazzotta’s career has focused primarily on Italian public finances. He has also held board positions at several institutions, including the port of Ancona, according to a biography published by Italian research institute Human Technopole.
Graziano was appointed chair of the state-backed cruise ship and defence specialist in May 2022. Later that year, he also became chairman of Italian shipbuilding association Assonave.
Fincantieri said his loss had left an irreplaceable void. The shipbuilder last week announced it would set up a research scholarship in his memory.
Pierroberto Folgiero, the CEO of Fincantieri, said: “We wanted to honour the memory of our President Claudio Graziano by continuing to keep alive his passion for training and his systemic vision of the geopolitical landscape and the defence industry, through the research and projects that the scholarship will support.”
Fincantieri this week said that its newbuilding order intake more than tripled in the first half of the year as it lifted its guidance for financial leverage.
The Italian shipbuilder, a major player in cruise ship construction, said it pulled in €7.62bn ($8.24bn) in orders during the first six months — a 257% improvement on the €2.13bn a year earlier.
The company reported a bottom-line loss of €27m, deeper red ink than the €22m a year earlier.
Read more
- Fincantieri chairman Claudio Graziano found dead
- Fincantieri’s offshore and equipment growth offsets dip in traditional shipbuilding
- Norwegian Cruise Line bags loan to buy four new ships
- Former Ulstein CEO Cathrine Marti emerges as new boss at Vard
- Fincantieri, RINA and Eni forge alliance to help maritime sector hit net-zero goals
