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| Francesco Starace | |
|---|---|
| Name | Francesco Starace |
| Birth date | 1955 |
| Birth place | Naples, Italy |
| Occupation | Business executive, engineer |
| Known for | Chief Executive Officer of Enel |
Francesco Starace (born 1955) is an Italian electrical engineer and corporate executive notable for his leadership at multinational energy company Enel. He has been prominent in debates on renewable energy, decarbonization, energy transition, and sustainable development across Europe and globally, interacting with institutions such as the European Commission, United Nations agencies, and major multinationals. His career spans roles in utilities, engineering firms, and international associations linking Italy, Spain, United States, and emerging markets.
Born in Naples, Starace studied electrical engineering at the Sapienza University of Rome where he received his degree in the 1970s, followed by postgraduate studies and management training at institutions including the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Harvard Business School executive programs, and technical courses associated with ENI and Italgas. During his formative years he engaged with research groups connected to the Italian National Research Council and collaborated with industrial laboratories from companies such as SIEMENS, ABB, and General Electric. His early networks included contacts at ENEL predecessor utilities, Snam, and engineering consultancies like Mott MacDonald and Bechtel.
Starace began his professional trajectory in technical and managerial positions at Italian and international firms such as General Electric, ABB, and regional utilities. He joined ENEL in operational roles before moving into executive functions in generation and distribution. Prior to becoming CEO, he held leadership positions at Enel Green Power, overseeing renewable development projects alongside partnerships with Iberdrola, EDP Renováveis, and Vestas. His portfolio included engagement with project finance teams from European Investment Bank, World Bank, and private equity firms like BlackRock and KKR. Starace also collaborated with regulatory agencies including Autorità per l'energia elettrica e il gas and pan-European bodies such as ENTSO-E and ACER.
Appointed chief executive in the late 2010s, Starace led Enel through strategic shifts emphasizing renewable energy expansion, grid modernization, and digitalization. Under his stewardship Enel accelerated asset rotation strategies reminiscent of moves by Shell, BP, and TotalEnergies, divesting fossil assets and scaling investments in wind, solar, and storage with suppliers like First Solar, Siemens Gamesa, and Tesla, Inc.. He prioritized international growth in markets including Spain, Chile, Brazil, United States, South Africa, and India, negotiating agreements with national utilities such as Endesa, Eletrobras, and regulators in Argentina. Starace's Enel engaged in strategic alliances with technology firms like IBM, Microsoft, and Google for smart grid and cloud solutions, while participating in forums run by International Energy Agency, COP, and the World Economic Forum.
Starace is characterized as a technocratic executive blending engineering rigor with corporate finance acumen, drawing on methods from Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and strategic frameworks popularized at McKinsey & Company or Boston Consulting Group. His decision-making shows influence from Italian industrialists connected to Fininvest and governance practices aligned with OECD guidelines and principles found in Corporate Governance codes applied across Borsa Italiana. He emphasizes stakeholder engagement, liaising with labor unions such as CGIL and CISL in Italy, investor groups including BlackRock and Vanguard, and public actors like the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance. Colleagues and commentators compare his style to executives at Iberdrola and Engie who have led transitions toward renewables.
Beyond Enel, Starace has served on boards and advisory councils at institutions including the World Economic Forum, United Nations Global Compact, Greenpeace advisory initiatives, and industry associations like WindEurope and SolarPower Europe. He has been involved with academic and policy bodies such as Politecnico di Milano, Luiss Guido Carli University, IESE Business School events, and European policy platforms associated with the European Green Deal. His public engagements include appearances at COP26, COP27, the G20, and panels hosted by Bloomberg New Energy Finance and Reuters.
Starace has received honors from national and international organizations acknowledging corporate sustainability and leadership, including recognitions from the European Commission for clean energy initiatives, awards from Financial Times-linked rankings, and industry prizes from Platts and S&P Global. He has been listed in executive rankings compiled by Forbes, Fortune, and Bloomberg Businessweek and received honorary degrees or commendations from institutions like Sapienza University of Rome and Politecnico di Torino.
Starace resides in Rome and maintains professional and civic ties with cultural institutions in Italy including associations with the Italian Red Cross and philanthropic activities linked to foundations such as the Cariplo Foundation and Fondazione Banco di Napoli. He is known to participate in dialogues with European policymakers in Brussels and advocates for climate action through collaboration with international leaders from Germany, France, Spain, and Portugal.
Category:Italian chief executives