On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo announced that, effective immediately, Stefano Villanti has been appointed Managing Director of its helicopter subsidiary, Leonardo Helicopters.
Photo: Leonardo
Stefano Villanti brings extensive experience in Leonardo’s helicopter business, having held senior positions at Leonardo Helicopters over the past ten years, including leading sales, marketing and contracts for the past three years.
As Managing Director, Stefano Villanti will ensure that Leonardo Helicopters remains focused on its key objectives: delivering on commitments to customers, advancing the helicopter division’s industrial strategy and achieving its growth targets.
Lorenzo Mariani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo said:
“Rotorcraft technology, with its unique performance, versatility and capability features, continues to provide an invaluable contribution across all defence, public service and civil markets. We are committed to further strengthening this strategic area of business, increasingly benefitting from synergies across our entire organisation. This will allow us to rapidly understand, adapt to and respond to evolving requirements, anticipating new trends both in terms of innovation and operational needs. I wish Stefano Villanti, in his new role, and his team continued success to achieve further growth and new global competitiveness objectives.”
Stefano Villanti said:
“Leonardo is a major global player in the rotorcraft industry — a sector that, like much of the wider Aerospace, Defence and Security landscape, is navigating a period of considerable change. This environment calls for a balanced approach: continuity in execution and performance, combined with a careful assessment of longer-term priorities and the opportunities most valuable to maintaining and strengthening Leonardo’s competitiveness. With customers at the centre of everything we do, we will place acceleration in execution and innovation at the core of how we work, while continuing to enhance quality. We are fully committed to delivering on these priorities, drawing on the expertise, dedication and enthusiasm of everyone across the Division.”