Lorenzo Mariani has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Leonardo, taking over from Roberto Cingolani at the helm of the group. His appointment comes at a time when defense, technology, and security are once again becoming deeply interconnected, with significant implications for Europe’s industrial strategies and Italy’s role within them.

In this context, Leonardo is expected to strengthen its position in major European programs and expand its presence across key international supply chains, amid rising geopolitical tensions and intensifying technological competition.

Born in 1965 and trained as an electronic engineer, Mariani is very much an insider. He graduated from Sapienza University of Rome in 1990 and, after a brief stint as an officer in the Italian Navy, began his career at Alenia and Ams, focusing on radar and electronic systems—core technologies in the defense sector.

Over the years, he has held a wide range of roles across the Finmeccanica-Leonardo group, spanning both technical and commercial functions. After an initial experience at MBDA as Head of Product Strategy, he returned to the group and took on increasingly senior responsibilities, eventually leading the electronics division for land and naval defense.

His rise to top management began in 2017, when he was appointed Chief Commercial Officer, a role he combined from 2018 with leadership of Leonardo International. In 2020, he moved back to MBDA as Executive Group Director for Sales & Business Development and CEO of MBDA Italy, before rejoining Leonardo in 2023 as Co-General Manager and Chief Operating Officer.

After nearly two years overseeing the group’s operations—and a further stint at MBDA in 2025—Mariani has now been named CEO. His appointment signals a focus on internal leadership with strong industrial and international experience, at a time when the defense and aerospace sectors are undergoing a profound reshaping of both European and global dynamics.