Campari CEO quits just months after taking role
Predecessor to chair leadership transition committee
Shares fall further after weakness in recent months

MILAN, Sept 18 Reuters Campari CEO Matteo Fantacchiotti abruptly quit on Wednesday after only five months in charge of the Italian spirits group, with the company citing personal reasons for his departure.

Shares in the Milanese company that makes the orange Aperol aperitif fell almost 6 before recovering some lost ground to stand just over 5 lower by 1130 GMT.

Fantacchiotti took on the role in April, succeeding Bob KunzeConcewitz who had been at the helm since 2007 and was a familiar figure in the industry, widely respected by investors.

KunzeConcewitz will chair a leadership transition committee including Chief Financial and Operating Officer Paolo Marchesini and the group39;s General Counsel and Business Development Officer Fabio Di Fede, who have been named interim coCEOs.

The committee will scout for a new CEO both internally and externally.

Fantacchiotti previously served as Campari39;s managing director Asia Pacific before being promoted to deputy CEO last year as part of the succession process.

It has been a privilege for me to be part of Campari Group for almost five years and to lead this organization since April 2024, he said in a statement, adding it had been his decision to leave.

HARD ACT TO FOLLOW

Traders had last week cited comments by Fantacchiotti as driving a decline in Campari39;s share…