Ferretti Group confirms two executive departures in leadership overhaul

Italian yachtbuilder Ferretti Group is setting up a new marketing and communications department and will remove the post of chief communications officer, currently held by Enrico Sgarbi.

Matteo Cecada, the group’s chief technical and operations officer, is to leave on 1 December 2026. Going forward, Ferretti Group has revealed it will split responsibility for its technical and operations functions among three executives, each reporting directly to group CEO Stassi Anastassov. Anastassov took the helm in May 2026.

Under these changes, chief manufacturing officer Marco Ricci will now oversee the shipyards and manufacturing operations. He will also oversee purchasing, infrastructure, and industrial efficiency.

Danilo Giunchi, chief research and development officer, will oversee engineering and product development. His role also covers research and the group’s proprietary technology.

Massimiliano Amato, chief customer and improvement officer, will be responsible for testing and for the quality of both the yachts and the delivery process. His remit includes ongoing improvements, with a focus on owner satisfaction.

The news comes three weeks after the Court of Bologna rejected KKCG Maritime’s request to suspend decisions made at Ferretti’s shareholders’ meeting on 14 May 2026.

Anastassov says: “Ferretti Group has extraordinary brands, exceptional craftsmanship and talented people. But our ambition is to become much more than the world’s most admired builder of beautiful yachts. We want to lead our industry in technology, innovation, product quality and manufacturing excellence.

“To achieve this, we need greater specialisation, clearer accountability and faster decisions. We need to develop more of our own technology, bring innovations to market faster and ensure that every yacht we deliver meets the highest expectations of our owners. Our Italian craftsmanship is our heritage. Technology and innovation must become our competitive advantage.”

On Cecada’s departure, he adds: “I want to thank Matteo for his many years of dedication and contribution to Ferretti Group. I wish him every success in his future professional endeavours.”

Ferretti Group says the launch of a new communications department is part of a “broader organisational transformation process” within the group, and that this new department will have more staff and a wider range of expertise. It says its work will cover how the group studies and engages with customers, as well as communications for its brands.

The group says it has separate non-compete agreements with Sgarbi and Cecada. It adds that “to the best of the company’s knowledge”, neither held shares in the group at the time of the respective announcements.