Ducati boss to leave?

Rumours from Italy suggest Ducati CEO Gabriele del Torchio is set to leave the company to take up the helm at Italian airline Alitalia after more than five years at the Bologna bike firm.

Italian business publication Ansa was the first to break the news but Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera was able to get a quote from del Torchio stating: “This is an idea, I haven’t signed anything yet.”

Del Torchio was brought in at Ducati in 2007 as previous owners InvestIndustrial bought the company and needed to cut costs, modernise the production process and improve profitability; all successfully achieved before the sale of the firm to Audi and the VW Group last year.

Alitalia is a struggling airline and was rescued from bankruptcy in 2008. It was purchased by a consortium of Italian companies including IMMSI , which also controls scooter maker Piaggio Group; the company that owns Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Vespa among other brands.