(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Milano, 7 apr - Shares in Leonardo were sharply lower on media speculation that the Italian government plans to replace the chief executive officer of the aerospace and defence group.

At 1129 GMT, Leonardo shares fell 7.16% to 57.80 euros.

There has been media speculation that the government will not confirm Roberto Cingolani at the company's helm.

'We believe that not renewing Cingolani's mandate would be a move that the market would not welcome, given the results Cingolani has achieved in recent years,' commented the broker Intermonte.

According to various media reports, Lorenzo Mariani, the head of MBDA Italia and co-general manager at Leonardo, is the most probable replacement for Cingolani.

Other possible candidates are Pierroberto Folgiero, the CEO of the shipbuilder Fincantieri; Stefano Donnarumma, the CEO of the railway company FS; and Alessandro Ercolani, the CEO.

of Rheinmetall Italia, the media reported.

(RADIOCOR) 07-04-26 13:40:11 (0346) 5 NNNN