Italy's State Railway CEO Stefano Donnarumma Resigns After Government Rift

Stefano Donnarumma has resigned as chief executive of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane (FS Group), Italy's state-owned railway operator, following months of disagreements with the government.

The departure removes the top executive from a role overseeing Italy's national rail network and one of Europe's largest rail groups. FS Group operates passenger services including Trenitalia and Frecciarossa high-speed trains, freight division Mercitalia, and infrastructure arm RFI. The resignation follows sustained tensions between Donnarumma and government officials, according to multiple reports.

Donnarumma's tenure at FS Group saw the operator manage extensive domestic and international rail services across Italy's 16,800-km network. The group employs over 80,000 staff and recorded €12.5bn in revenue in 2024. No successor has been named. The resignation was confirmed on 30 June 2026.

FS Group remains wholly owned by Italy's Ministry of Economy and Finance. The operator's infrastructure division manages track maintenance, signalling and electrification across the national network, while Trenitalia runs regional, intercity and high-speed services. Frecciarossa trains connect Milan, Rome, Naples and other major cities at speeds up to 300 km/h. The group also operates international services to France, Austria and Switzerland through its European division.

The leadership change occurs as Italy continues investment in rail infrastructure under the national recovery plan. FS Group has outstanding orders for new rolling stock including ETR 1000 high-speed trainsets from Hitachi Rail and regional EMUs from Alstom. The government has not commented on the circumstances surrounding Donnarumma's departure or the timeline for appointing a replacement.