ITALIAN classification society RINA has appointed a new Board of
directors
and chief executive. Effective today, Enrico (Gianni) Scerni will be
Chairman of RINA Spa, and Ugo Salerno will be CEO.
The shareholders meeting, held on May 23, has also taken the
opportunity to
thank the Chairman Saverio Di Macco, the CEO Nicola Squassafichi and
all the
other Board members for the very good work done in the past three
years.
Enrico Scerni, President of Genoa-based Finservice - Gruppo Scerni,
says:
"RINA is a keystone of the Italian maritime cluster. It is an honour to
be
asked to chair a company which is so rich in expertise and so important
to
our industry."
Ugo Salerno, who steps down today as Managing Director of Coeclerici
Armatori and Logistics to take over as RINA's CEO, says: "Today,
classification and certification are challenging and exciting areas of
shipping. I'm looking forward to taking RINA forward as a global centre
of
excellence with, of course, an Italian heart."
Saverio Di Macco, who
steps down after three years as RINA's Chairman,
says,
"The whole business of classification has undergone a fundamental
change in
the last few years. The company is well placed to cope with the
industry
evolution and will go forward in good hands. I leave a sound company,
with
tidy accounts, solid assets, increasing turnover and stable
employment."
Nicola Squassafichi, who will retire after a long career at RINA,
serving as
RINA's CEO and Director General since 1991, says, "We have had a tough
time
lately, but we have emerged stronger and more focused. I'm happy to
hand
RINA and its highly professional and loyal staff over to the guidance
of a
Board with strong shipping experience. I am confident that RINA will
continue to serve Italian shipowners and industry, and our world-wide
customers, better than ever."
Beside Scerni and Salerno, the following Directors have been appointed
as
members of the Board: Giuseppe Bernardi (Deputy Chairman); Umberto
D'Amato;
Gianrenzo Prati; Carlo Stagnaro and Manfredo Zanardi.
RINA recently reported strong growth for its 2001 financial year. The
consolidated revenues of the Group were Euro93.7m, up ten per cent from
last
year's Euro85.2m.