Fabio Gallia
Fabio Gallia | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 August 1963 Italy |
| Died | 7 May 2024 (aged 60) |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, executive, entrepreneur |
| Known for | CEO of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, CEO of BNL-BNP Paribas Group, General Manager of Fincantieri |
Fabio Gallia (20 August 1963 – 7 May 2024) was a distinguished Italian banker, executive, and entrepreneur.
Up until his passing, he held the position of senior advisor at Centerview Partners, a premier global investment bank headquartered in New York, renowned for its exceptional workplace environment and status as one of the foremost boutique investment banks worldwide.
With a banking and investment career spanning over three decades, Gallia directed multiple financial entities as CEO and provided strategic counsel to entrepreneurs, private equity firms, and infrastructure investors.
Between 2020 and 2022, he was the general manager of Fincantieri, the leading shipbuilding company globally, generating revenues of €7 billion and employing 21,000 individuals. The company operates internationally across cruising, naval, and offshore segments.
Prior to that role, Gallia served as CEO of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Italy’s Sovereign Wealth Fund overseeing assets exceeding US$400 billion. CDP’s activities include financing public authorities and corporations, supporting infrastructure initiatives, making equity investments such as strategic stakes, private equity, venture capital, and real estate. It stands as the largest shareholder on the Italian Stock Exchange with holdings in major corporations including Eni, Fincantieri, Poste Italiane, Snam, Terna, Italgas, and Saipem.
His earlier tenure included the role of CEO at BNL-BNP Paribas Group and membership on BNP Paribas’s executive committee. The group’s operations in Italy produced €5 billion in revenue with assets surpassing €110 billion and a workforce of 20,000 employees across commercial banking, investment banking, asset management, insurance, consumer finance, and real estate sectors.
Before these roles, Gallia was co-general manager and chief financial officer at Capitalia Group—then Italy’s third-largest banking institution—and served as CEO of Fineco and Banca di Roma. His career commenced with positions at Accenture and Ersel AM, a prominent independent Italian asset management company.
Gallia also contributed as an independent board member of Edison (€9 billion in sales; part of EDF Group) and participated on the boards of the Telethon Foundation as well as the Audit Committee of the European Society of Cardiology.
Until 2023, he acted as senior advisor to Brookfield Asset Management and held board memberships in various industrial enterprises and financial organizations including Borsa Italiana.
Career before Capitalia
Gallia launched his professional journey in 1988 at consulting firm Accenture. In 1990, he transitioned to Ersel Asset Management Sgr—Italy’s top independent asset manager within the Giubergia Group—progressing to general manager and partner by 1999.
Career at Capitalia Group
In 2002, Gallia joined Capitalia Group—then Italy’s third-largest banking institution—as co-general manager and chief financial officer responsible for finance, wealth management, and distribution channels. He was appointed CEO of Fineco in 2003—a publicly listed subsidiary of Capitalia—which was later fully integrated into Capitalia in 2005. From 2005 through 2007, he held the position of CEO at Banca di Roma while chairing Capitalia’s management committee.
Career at BNP Paribas Group
Beginning in 2008, Gallia served as CEO and general manager of BNL - BNP Paribas Group and joined BNP Paribas’s executive committee. He assumed chairmanship of Findomestic Banca in 2009 and from 2012 led BNP Paribas Group’s operations throughout Italy.
Career at Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
From July 2015 until July 2018, Gallia held the positions of CEO and general manager at Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Italy’s leading national promotional institution.
Other professional experience
Gallia has been a member of the boards of directors for Edison (part of the EDF Group) and the Telethon Foundation, which is dedicated to research on rare genetic disorders. He contributed to the Audit Committee of the European Society of Cardiology and previously served on boards for Borsa Italiana, MTS (an electronic trading platform), Ariston Thermo, Coesia, Manifatture Sigaro Toscano, Mooney (formerly SisalPay), Museo Egizio di Torino Foundation, along with various companies in insurance and asset management sectors.
Education
In 1987, Gallia earned a degree in Business and Economics from the University of Turin. He qualified as an Italian chartered accountant two years later, in 1989. Gallia is married, has two sons, and lives in Rome.
Honours
In June 2013, Fabio Gallia was awarded the title of “Chevalier” in the National Order of Legion of Honour by France.
He was designated a Knight of Labour by the Italian Republic in May 2015.
In February 2019, La Sapienza University in Rome conferred upon him an honorary PhD in Management, Banking and Commodity Sciences.
Death
Gallia passed away on 7 May 2024 at the age of 60.
External links
Fabio Gallia's biography on en.cdp.it