Italy's state railways' chief to quit after rift with government

Terna Rete Elettrica Nazionale SpA

Thu 13:25

ROME, June 25 (Reuters) - The chief executive of Italy's state-controlled railway company Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) is set to resign in the next few days following months of disagreements with the government, sources told Reuters on Thursday. 
Relations between the company's CEO Stefano Donnarumma and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's government have come under strain during recurring disruptions and delays on the rail network, largely linked to maintenance and upgrading work.
Donnarumma's departure was decided by mutual consent at a meeting on Thursday with Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini of the far-right League party, the sources said.
At the heart of the decision were differing views over the group's future strategy and the type of new investments needed for the network, one of the sources said. 
The government is unhappy with some of Donnarumma's past decisions, such as the integration of two rail-sector companies, and is also against his intention to tap foreign funds to invest in the group's high speed rail business, the same source added. 
Another source, from the transport ministry, said Donnarumma's successor will be chosen from within the Ferrovie dello Stato group. 
Donnarumma took over at FS in June 2024 after previously leading power grid operator Terna TRN.MI. 
Sources indicated Gianpiero Strisciuglio, head of FS' train operator unit Trenitalia, as the front runner to replace him.

 (Reporting by Giulia Segreti in Rome, editing by Gavin Jones)
 ((Giulia.Segreti@tr.com; +39.06.80307714;))