The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has announced the appointment of Carlo Comporti as its new Chair, effective November 1, 2026, following formal approval by the Council of the European Union.
Comporti will succeed Verena Ross, who has led the European Union's financial markets regulator for the past five years. His appointment marks an important leadership transition as ESMA continues strengthening financial market supervision, investor protection and regulatory cooperation across Europe.
Currently a Commissioner at Italy's securities regulator, CONSOB, Comporti brings decades of experience in European financial markets regulation. Since joining CONSOB in February 2022, he has also served on ESMA's Board of Supervisors and Management Board, chaired its Digital Finance Standing Committee, and participated in the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) Board.
Before joining CONSOB, Comporti held senior executive positions at Promontory, an IBM Consulting business, including CEO of Promontory Italy and COO of Promontory Europe. Earlier in his career, he served as Secretary General of the Committee of European Securities Regulators, contributing to the institutional transition that established ESMA in 2011.
His five-year term comes at a significant time for European financial markets, as policymakers seek to strengthen capital market integration, improve regulatory efficiency and address emerging challenges involving digital finance and financial innovation.
Comporti has emphasized the importance of developing more integrated European financial markets that support businesses, investors and citizens, while maintaining close cooperation with European institutions and national financial regulators.
The appointment reinforces ESMA's role in shaping the regulatory framework for Europe's capital markets amid continuing developments in market supervision, financial stability and digital financial services.
