Claudio Domenicali To Take Top Spot At Ducati
Cycle News Staff | April 19, 2013
Claudio Domenicali will replace Gabriele Del Torchio as CEO of Ducati Motor Holding, effective immediately, with Del Torchio set to leave the company to take over the same position for Alitalia, Italy’s struggling airline.
Domenicali, the current general manager who sits on the Board of Directors at Ducati Motor Holding, joined Ducati in 1991 as project leader. After passing through various management positions, he was promoted to Managing Director of Ducati Corse in 1999. In 2005, he took over as R&D Director and in 2009 was appointed General Manager Operations and Product Development. In 2012, he was confirmed as a member of the newly formed Board of Directors after the sale of Ducati Motor Holding to AUDI AG.
Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ducati Motor Holding, praised the successful work of Gabriele Del Torchio, who has spent six years at the top of the premium brand. Del Torchio is taking over at Alitalia from Andrea Ragnetti, who quit the job in February as the airline reported a net loss of $367 million in 2012.
“Del Torchio guided Ducati out of an economically difficult phase, back to a successful growth path and to the top of the worldwide segment of premium performance motorcycles,” Stadler said. “For that achievement, we express our gratitude on behalf of all Audi and Ducati employees and wish him all the best in his future tasks.”
“I look back on six intensive, exciting and successful years,” said Del Torchio in response to Stadler’s best wishes in his farewell speech to the company. “It was an intense experience which will remain an unforgettable memory. I leave Ducati in the knowledge that I have helped to place the company on a path of growth and strength.”
Ducati believes that Domenicali will thrive in his new role.
“Domenicali knows Ducati and the motorcycle business more than anyone. He embodies continuity and Ducati’s values in an exceptional manner,” said Stadler.
