Banker of the year: Andrea Orcel demonstrates UniCredit’s worth

Andrea Orcel’s long-awaited debut as a bank chief executive has won over the markets, largely thanks to capital returns. But his plans for UniCredit go far beyond balance-sheet management and costs. He now sees a chance to demonstrate growth.

UniCredit’s headquarters – Italy’s tallest building – tower over the Milan skyline in a blunt celebration of growth. Given that the bank’s share price has tripled in the two years to June 2024, the 32-story building could be seen as a reflection of the ambitions of its chief executive, Andrea Orcel.

Orcel, who was head of UBS’s investment bank for most of the 2010s, now presides over a refocused and balance sheet-light approach at UniCredit.

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