Leonardo

Overview

Leonardo was originally founded in 1948 under the name of Finmeccanica as a mechanical engineering sub-holding company for the state-owned Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale - a public entity established under the fascist regime in 1933 to support and relaunch Italian companies following the Great Depression. During the initial years, Finmeccanica's focus was on restructuring of shipbuilding (later annexed to a new entity, Fincantieri). From the 1960's onwards, the group refocused onto technology sectors, and in 1973 triggered by the energy crisis, onto electromechanical and aerospace. Throughout the years as the company reorganised, several other entities were established, others acquired, and worldwide partnerships consolidated. In 2017, Leonardo was rebranded in homage to Leonardo da Vinci's creativity, and is now a multinational industrial group building capabilities in Aerospace, Defence & Security.