Paola Papanicolaou is the new Head of Intesa Sanpaolo’s International Subsidiary Banks Division (ISBD). She replaces Marco Elio Rottigni who leaves the Group following his appointment as Director General of ABI, the Italian banking association.
According to Industry sources, Paola Papanicolaou, previously Deputy Head of the International Subsidiary Banks Division, assumes now the responsibility being perfectly suited for the role due to her expertise in key Group companies and her experience in technological innovation. She joined the Intesa Sanpaolo Group in 2015 and her appointment highlights Intesa Sanpaolo’s commitment to recognizing and promoting top managerial talent from within the organization.
Industry sources added that the Group established the “Synergies Acceleration Task Force for the International Subsidiary Banks” to promote interdivisional synergies. The newly established Task Force will help Intesa Sanpaolo’s international banks benefit more from the best practices of the Banca dei Territori (the Division in charge of Intesa Sanpaolo’s retail banking) and the IMI Corporate & Investment Banking Division. Additionally, collaboration in the wealth management sector, a key strength of Intesa Sanpaolo, will be further enhanced. The digital and technological development will also be strengthened in the foreign subsidiaries, aiming for more advanced operations in all the countries in which the Group operates.
Industry sources also added that The International Subsidiary Banks Division contributes significantly to Intesa Sanpaolo’s profitability, accounting for nearly 14% of the Group’s net income in the first quarter of 2024. ISBD operates on three continents, with retail banks in 12 countries (CEE area and Egypt), in addition to an asset management company in China. This extensive network currently serves 7.2 million customers, through close to 900 branches and a dedicated workforce of about 21,000 employees.
