Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), the US subsidiary of the state-controlled Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, has appointed George A. Moutafis as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July.
“The change at the helm of the Group’s US company, led by Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Pierroberto Folgiero, comes at a pivotal time for the US shipbuilding industry as the new US administration places a new strategic emphasis on strengthening domestic naval capabilities,” the Italians announced. Moutafis replaces Marco Galbiati, who had been at the helm of FMG since 2022.
Fincantieri wants to strengthen its long-term commitment to the United States by appointing “a seasoned US executive with extensive experience in defense, shipbuilding and international industrial transformation”.
Fincantieri invested more than $800 million
The shipyard group, known in Europe primarily for cruise ships and naval projects, has been present in the United States for over 15 years, with four shipyards and around 3,000 employees. During this period, the group says it has invested more than $800 million in its US shipbuilding operations, more than half of which has been used specifically to modernize and expand the Marinette shipyard in Wisconsin.
George Moutafis has more than 25 years of leadership experience in strategic planning, program management and industrial restructuring – in both the public and private sectors. His background includes leadership positions in major defense and manufacturing companies, most recently as Chief Operating Officer and General Manager of Beretta USA Corp. Prior to that, he also held leadership positions at FMG, which has kept him busy with projects for the U.S. Navy.
“His background in the defense and shipbuilding industries, combined with his international perspective and proven ability to drive operational and financial management, aligns with the Group’s strategic direction in response to changing priorities in the broader U.S. institutional and industrial context,” the official introduction said.
