The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, is pleased to announce that Carlo Comporti has been appointed as its next Chair. The appointment was confirmed by the Council of the European Union at its meeting in Brussels. Mr Comporti will take up his position on 1 November 2026.

Verena Ross, current ESMA Chair, said:

“It is a pleasure to welcome Carlo as the new Chair of ESMA. Together with the Board of Supervisors, I wish Carlo all the best in his new position. He brings decades of experience in European financial markets regulation and knows ESMA well. I look forward to seeing ESMA continue to grow under his leadership.

“For my part, it has been a true honour to lead ESMA as Chair for the last 5 years. The dedication, professionalism and expertise of ESMA colleagues have been the driving force behind everything we have achieved together. I am deeply grateful to them for making this journey so rewarding. I would also like to warmly thank my colleagues on the Board of Supervisors for their trust, support, and collaboration throughout these years.”

Carlo Comporti, incoming Chair, said

“I am honoured to have been entrusted with this role at a time when ESMA is at the heart of discussions shaping the future of European financial markets. I am thankful to the members of the Board, the European Council and the European Parliament for their trust, and I look forward to working closely with them, as well as with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and other authorities and stakeholders across the financial sector.

Now more than ever, ESMA plays a critical role in ensuring that European markets further develop and integrate, to support the needs of companies, investors and citizens. I am eager to join the ESMA team and collaborate directly with colleagues who contribute every day to such a dynamic organisation.”

Prior to his appointment, Mr Comporti served as a Commissioner at CONSOB (Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa) since February 2022. During this period, he was also a member of ESMA’s Board of Supervisors and Management Board, Chair of its Digital Finance Standing Committee, and a member of the IOSCO Board, where he chaired the Audit and Finance Committee. Before joining CONSOB, he served as CEO of Promontory Italy and COO of Promontory Europe, a business unit of IBM Consulting, from 2011 to 2022, having previously held the position of Directeur Général of Promontory France. He served as Secretary General of the Committee of European Securities Regulators (CESR) from 2008 and played a key role in the transition from CESR to ESMA in 2010 and 2011.

Source: ESMA