Giorgio Zappa, born in Casatenovo, near Lecco (Lombardy Region), on February 5, 1945, passed away yesterday, June 11, 2025, at the age of 80.

Graduated in law from the "La Sapienza" University of Rome, he began his professional career at Finmeccanica and Finsider industries, working in thermomechanics and metallurgy.

In 1993 he assumed the position of general manager of Alenia; three years later he led Alenia Aerospazio, the Finmeccanica company dedicated to aeronautics and space. With the new corporate reorganization of 1999, he became the operational chairman of Alenia Spazio and subsequently president and CEO of Alenia Aeronautica, chairman of Telespazio, and vice-president of Aermacchi (today Alenia Aermacchi).

In 2004 he was appointed general manager of Finmeccanica, while retaining the role of president of Alenia Aeronautica.

On May 30, 2006, he was named Knight of Labour by the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano (see attached photo).

From July 7, 2012, to April 2016, he led Vitrociset, serving as operational chairman.

He received an honorary specialist degree in Aerospace Engineering, accompanied by the following motivation: "During the period in which Giorgio Zappa held leadership with increasing responsibilities over the Italian aerospace industry, a substantial improvement and strengthening of the entire aerospace industrial sector was realized; after overcoming the difficult phase of economic recovery, thanks to the revitalization and enhancement of technological qualification, there was a progressive integration of national industrial activities into a network of partnerships with the largest aeronautical groups worldwide, establishing a vital industrial system among the few groups still active globally, thereby ensuring a renewed presence and role of Italy in the global aerospace industry. It is for this cluster of achievements and merits that we are pleased and honored to confer this degree" – University of Pisa, February 4, 2006^.

The funeral will be held tomorrow, on Friday, June 13 at 10:00 AM, at the Church of the Immaculate Sacred Heart of Mary, Piazza Euclide 34, in Rome.