MBDA appoints Lorenzo Mariani as Executive Group Director Sales & Business Development

In addition to this role, Mr Mariani will serve as Managing Director of MBDA Italia and join the company’s Executive Committee. He will be responsible for leading a multinational team focused on customer engagement, order intake, and the development of innovative defence solutions.

As Managing Director of MBDA Italia, Mr Mariani becomes the legal representative of the Group in Italy. He will also oversee relations with Italian customers and the national industrial sector, while ensuring continuity in production expansion efforts.

The company noted that these efforts are crucial in light of current geopolitical developments. Mr Mariani will support the ramp-up of operations initiated in recent years to meet growing defence requirements.

Eric Béranger, CEO of MBDA, said: “I am pleased to welcome Lorenzo Mariani to MBDA again. He already held positions in our Group in the past and hence has a strong expertise in our business and industry to bring to our team, especially to ensure future commercial successes and development.”

Mr Béranger also expressed appreciation for the outgoing executive, saying: “I warmly thank Giovanni Soccodato for his personal and very effective contribution to driving MBDA during these critical times, especially to contributing to raising our backlog at an unprecedented level. I also thank him for generously sharing unique human qualities, personifying our MBDA values, which everyone has appreciated during his time with us.”

Lorenzo Mariani joins MBDA from Leonardo, where he served most recently as Co-General Manager and Director of Business Operations. His previous experience includes senior roles at MBDA between 2002–2005 and 2020–2023, as well as leadership of Leonardo’s Land & Naval Defence Electronics Division.

Between 2017 and 2023, Mr Mariani held the position of Chief Commercial Officer at Leonardo. He also served as CEO of Leonardo International and was a member of MBDA’s Board of Directors.