Rome, March 13 – Italy is celebrating a major victory for women in the workplace with the first ever appointment of a female director at the helm of powerful industrial employers’ federation Confindustria.
Emma Marcegaglia, 46, will step into the shoes of current president Luca Cordero di Montezemolo after winning a landslide vote on Thursday.
Industrialists voted 125 out of 132 in her favour – a higher percentage than that received by any of the 26 male presidents in Confindustria’s 98-year history.
”I’m thrilled, happy and proud, and I’ll put all my effort and knowledge into the job,” said Marcegaglia, who received a standing ovation after her appointment was announced.
A visibly moved Cordero di Montezemolo said it was ”a great day”.
”Emma knows the membership system and will know how to continue its work while ringing the changes. I call it dynamic continuity,” the chairman of Ferrari and Fiat said.
Marcegaglia’s appointment has been well received on both sides of the political divide as an important step forward in a country that has one of the lowest rates of female directors in Europe.