Pier Francesco Guarguaglini has died at the age of 88. Historic president and CEO of Finmeccanica, today Leonardo, his disappearance was announced by the Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, who wrote on X: “Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, an extraordinary state manager, the man who made Finmeccanica great, recently left this world and his loved ones. He was a man of extraordinary intelligence and vision. He was a friend. We will miss him. May the earth rest lightly upon you, Piero.”
The career of Pier Francesco Guarguaglini
Born in Castagneto Carducci, Tuscany, in 1937Pier Francesco Guarguaglini graduated in electronic engineering from the University of Pisa and the Collegio Pacinotti, now the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, and later completed a Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. He joined Finmeccanica in the 70s and held senior positions such as general manager of Officine Galileo, CEO of Oto Melara and Breda Meccanica Bresciana, head of Finmeccanica's defense sector, president of Alenia Marconi Systems, and CEO of Fincantieri.
From 2002 to 2011 he was president and CEO of Finmeccanica, leading the group through its years of greatest expansion and consolidating its international presence in sectors such as helicopters, defense electronics, security, and space. Among the most notable projects was the winning, later canceled, tender for the Marine One U.S. presidential helicopter, a historic achievement for a non-U.S. company. During his presidency, he was a member of the Italian group of the Trilateral Commission and received the America Award from the Italy-USA Foundation.
The years at the helm of Finmeccanica were however also marked by judicial cases. In 2011, together with the wife Marina Grossi, at the time CEO of Selex Sistemi Integrati, was investigated by the Rome Prosecutor's Office for Tax fraud and false invoicing related to Enav contractsThe investigations led to his resignation on December 1, 2011 and opened a phase of corporate restructuring. Guarguaglini received a good exit of 5,5 million of euros, while his judicial position was subsequently archived.
The news of his passing has sparked mourning among colleagues, institutions, and figures from the economic and political worlds, who have emphasized his intelligence, foresight, and commitment to Italy.
