ESMA appoints Comporti as Chair
09 October 2026 Europe
Image: ESMA
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has onboarded Carlo Comporti as its next chair, effective 1 November 2026.
The appointment was confirmed by the Council of the European Union at its meeting in Brussels.
Prior to his appointment, Comporti served as a Commissioner at the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB).
During his tenure, he also acted as a member of ESMA's board of supervisors and management board, chaired its digital finance standing committee, and sat on the IOSCO board, where he chaired the audit and finance committee.
Before joining CONSOB, he served as CEO of Promontory Italy and chief operating officer 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.
Verena Ross, current ESMA chair, says: “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.
“It has been a true honour to lead ESMA as chair for the last five 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.”
Comporti states: “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.”
The appointment was confirmed by the Council of the European Union at its meeting in Brussels.
Prior to his appointment, Comporti served as a Commissioner at the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB).
During his tenure, he also acted as a member of ESMA's board of supervisors and management board, chaired its digital finance standing committee, and sat on the IOSCO board, where he chaired the audit and finance committee.
Before joining CONSOB, he served as CEO of Promontory Italy and chief operating officer 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.
Verena Ross, current ESMA chair, says: “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.
“It has been a true honour to lead ESMA as chair for the last five 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.”
Comporti states: “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.”
NO FEE, NO RISK
100% ON RETURNS If you invest in only one securities finance news source this year, make sure it is your free subscription to Securities Finance Times
100% ON RETURNS If you invest in only one securities finance news source this year, make sure it is your free subscription to Securities Finance Times
