Fincantieri Marine Group, Washington, D.C., announced today that after six years as the company’s president and CEO, Francesco Valente will step down to assume another leadership role with the Fincantieri group.
The board has selected Dario Deste to assume the role of president and CEO. Valente and Deste are working to ensure an orderly transition, which is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Valente joined Fincantieri in early 2012 as senior vice president for business development-naval, before being appointed as president and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group a few months later. During his time in this role, Valente has led the company through a period of growth including the acquisition of multiple commercial and government contracts, as well as a stable growth in employment.
Dario Deste. Fincantieri photo
Deste has nearly 30 years of industry experience, including 11 years with Fincantieri. A former navy officer, he has played a key role in developing the company’s international presence. Since 2014, Deste has been CEO of Fincantieri Marine Systems North America, which provides maintenance and repair support services for several U.S. Navy programs.
“I would like to thank Francesco for building up our presence in the United States and preparing us for an even greater future,” Giuseppe Bono, Fincantieri CEO, said in a statement announcing the change. “At the same time, we are excited to welcome Dario in his new role, where he will be able to put his considerable knowledge of the international shipbuilding markets at the service of the growth of Fincantieri in the United States, one of our domestic markets.”
