Former Ferrari chief Luca
Cordero di Montezemolo has been appointed president of the new
Alitalia following its tie-up with Etihad, ANSA sources said
Wednesday after a meeting of shareholders.
Montezemolo, who was nominated to the post at a board
meeting earlier this month, replaces Roberto Colaninno who
resigned as Alitalia president after the deal with Etihad was
finalized in August.
The shareholders were also expected to ratify the
nomination of James Hogan, the chief executive officer (CEO) of
the Abu Dhabi-based Etihad, as Alitalia's new vice-president.
Earlier this year, Etihad invested 560-million euros for a
49% stake in Alitalia and the deal was recently approved by the
European Commission.
Another change will see Silvio Cassano take over as CEO
after Gabriele Del Torchio, who steered the Italian carrier
during the negotiations with Etihad, announced he would resign
once the deal was done.
Montezemolo, 67, was chairman of luxury carmaker Ferrari
for 23 years but resigned in September under pressure from
Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler
Automobiles (FCA) which owns Ferrari, after Ferrari did poorly
in a series of Formula One seasons.
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