© Reuters. FILE PHOTO – Gabriele Galateri di Genola, chairman of the Italian insurance coverage firm Generali, is seen earlier than shareholders assembly in Trieste, Italy, April 27, 2017. REUTERS/Remo Casilli
By Valentina Za
MILAN (Reuters) -The chairman of Italy’s greatest insurer, Generali (MI:), plans to step down in April after 11 years within the job, saying that present tensions amongst traders had been a supply of remorse.
Gabriele Galateri di Genola advised the board he would proceed as chairman solely till a shareholder assembly when traders are as a result of vote on a brand new staff of administrators.
His departure comes at a fragile time for Generali, with some influential traders against Philippe Donnet staying on as CEO for one more time period, though its prime shareholder backs him.
“I’ll go away the board in full concord,” Galateri, who’s 75 and a former Fiat chief govt, wrote in a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday.
He indicated it was time to permit a extra unbiased chair to take the place after such a very long time within the position.
“I’ve carried out the sums and it is virtually superb to grasp I’ve been chairman for 11 years,” he added, noting he had additionally beforehand served for seven years as vice-chairman.
He didn’t immediately hyperlink his departure to strain for reform at Generali from traders Francesco Gaetano Caltagirone and his fellow Italian billionaire Leonardo Del Vecchio.
Nonetheless, he expressed “remorse for latest tensions within the shareholder base that Generali definitely does not deserve.”
Building magnate Caltagirone and Del Vecchio, founding father of eyewear firm Luxottica, have each opposed plans by Generali’s board to retain Donnet, who has been chief govt since 2016.
The pair need the insurer to be extra formidable in increasing by way of acquisitions.
Nonetheless, Donnet retains the help of Mediobanca (OTC:), the main Generali investor, forward of a shareholder assembly on the finish of April.
It’s not clear who will succeed Galateri within the chairman’s position, with unbiased Generali director Diva Moriani seen as a attainable candidate.
Generali’s board is engaged on a slate of candidates for the brand new board to be put to a shareholder vote in April.
After discussing an preliminary checklist of greater than 25 names, the board on Wednesday examined a brief checklist of 15-20 candidates.
It’s anticipated to fulfill once more on Monday to debate standards for the composition of the board earlier than finalising the checklist in March.
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