Alitalia CEO quits after less than a year

epa03885232 (FILE) A file picture dated 25 September 2008 shows an Alitalia aircraft taking off from Rome's Fiumicino airport, Italy. Alitalia is to receive a cash injection of at least 100 million euros (135 million dollars), the board of the loss-making Italian air carrier said on 26 September 2013, amid speculation of a takeover from minority shareholder Air France-KLM.  EPA/PERCOSSI *** Local Caption *** 01500183

Alitalia says CEO Silvano Cassano has quit after less than a year in the job, which has been focused on restructuring the once-failing Italian airline under the ownership of Emirates-based Etihad.

The airline said in a statement that Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo will take up the role on an interim basis until a new CEO can be named. The chief operations and financial officers would handle day-to-day operations.

It said Cassano, a former executive with carmaker Fiat and apparel maker Benetton, was resigning for unspecified personal reasons.

Etihad bought a 49 per cent controlling stake in Alitalia last year, launching a major restructuring plan with significant investments for fleet upgrades and new route development, especially to Asia.

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