By Liam Moloney
ROME--Italy's new premier Matteo Renzi Monday named a slate of
bosses at Italy's biggest state-controlled groups, in one of the
first tests of his promise to deliver economic change.
Mr. Renzi, who swept to power in February, announced the names
of new chief executives at Eni SpA and Enel SpA, among the
country's biggest companies by market capitalization, as well as
key groups such as defense group Finmeccanica SpA, and Italy's post
office, which is slated for privatization later this year.
At Eni, one of Europe's biggest oil and natural gas companies,
longtime Chief Executive Paolo Scaroni will be replaced by Claudio
Descalzi, currently the group's No. 2 executive as the head of
exploration and production. Businesswoman Emma Marcegaglia will
replace Chairman Giuseppe Recchi, a former General Electric Co.
executive who is expected to become chairman of Telecom Italia
SpA.
At Italy's former utility monopoly, Enel, Francesco Starace, 58
years old, a longtime executive who heads renewable-energy company
Enel Green Power SpA, will replace Fulvio Conti, 66, who had hoped
to receive a fourth three-year term.
The government is the biggest shareholder of Eni and Enel, with
stakes of 30% and 31% respectively, giving it the power to nominate
the boards. The companies' shareholders will approve the
nominations next month.
The government named Francesco Caio as new chief of Italy's
postal service, Poste Italiane SpA, which is entirely controlled by
the state, replacing Massimo Sarmi.
Mr. Renzi appointed Mauro Moretti as new chief of Finmeccanica,
replacing Alessandro Pansa, who took the help only last year in the
wake of the arrest of his predecessor as part of a bribery
investigation. Chairman Gianni De Gennaro was reconfirmed.
Write to Liam Moloney at liam.moloney@wsj.com
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