nexi, the main Italian paytech owned by Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (Cdp), is experiencing a real storm in the vertices: Bernardo Mingrone becomes the new CEO, happening to Paul Bertoluzzo, who led the company for ten years. The announcement, made official on March 25, 2026, marks a new phase for Nexi, at a delicate time for the stock on the Milan Stock Exchange. Following the news, the title falls again: more than 2%, falling below 3 euros per share.
Nexi, a storm at the top: a long-awaited change, here's why
The succession was in the air: the payments sector is experiencing complex challenges, and in recent years Nexi has recorded significant declines (-40% in the last year, -83% compared to the historical peak). The recent business plan 2028 made the tremble Baga thud of 16,6%, accelerating the decision to renew the leadership. Furthermore, some rumors – never confirmed – had suggested a possible exit of Mingrone towards Tinexta, an element that contributed to pushing the choice of an internal solution.
The payments sector in Europe is highly competitive. Nexi competes not only with established players such as Worldline, Adyen, and Stripe, but also with new digital operators such as RevolutThe new CEO will have to balance innovation and consolidation, seeking to regain investor confidence and strengthen the group's European leadership.
Nexi: Shareholder Structure and Board of Directors Renewal
The change of shareholders also led to a renewal of the Board of Directors: they left Luca Bassi, Elena Diamina and Enrico Trovati, while they entered as independents Alexander Rothschild (Rothschild & Co Italia), Saba Nazar (formerly Bank of America) and, for H&F, Luca Velussi.
Also the shareholding structure of the group has changed: the Bain, Advent and Clessidra funds, historical investors, have left the capital, while today the main shareholders are Hellman & Friedman (22,23%) and CDP (19,14%), creating fertile ground for a secure internal succession.
Mingrone takes over Nexi after ten years under Bertoluzzo.
Bernardo Mingrone has been working at Nexi since 2016: he was CFO until 2023, then Deputy General Manager Finance & Transformation and CEO of Nexi Payments. Former banker With experience at Unicredit, MPS, and Amundi, he has a thorough understanding of the group's structure and operations.
“Nexi is building on solid foundations, with unparalleled scale in Europe, strong cash generation capacity, and significant growth potential,” said Mingrone, emphasizing the group's desire to consolidate its role in the digital payments ecosystem.
Paolo Bertoluzzo leave the group after ten years of transformationsFrom a small local company, Nexi has become a European payments leader, with strategic transactions such as the integration with SIA and Denmark's Nets. Bertoluzzo will receive a severance package of €3 million plus bonuses accrued in 2026. "I am proud of what we have achieved over the last 10 years," commented Bertoluzzo, emphasizing Nexi's strategic role for the country and Europe.
