Lifetime Achievement for the International Energy Policy and Diplomacy

Mr. Claudio Descalzi

CEO of Eni

Mr Claudio Descalzi has served as the CEO of Eni since May 2014. With a career spanning 40 years, he has been a pivotal figure in the global energy sector. Mr Descalzi started at Eni in 1981 as a petroleum engineer, advanced in roles and positions by overseeing major oil and gas projects in the North Sea, Libya, Nigeria and Congo. By 1990, Mr Descalzi became Head of Reservoir and Operating Activities in Italy and later appointed as Managing Director of Eni’s subsidiaries in Congo and Nigeria. His leadership earned him roles as EVP for Africa, Middle East and China, ultimately leading to his appointment as COO of Eni’s Exploration & Production Division from 2008 to 2014.

Mr Descalzi’s tenure as CEO has been marked by his innovative approach in addressing energy transition challenges, both at the technological and cultural level. Consequently, Eni started in 2014 a transformation to provide the company with a new framework to adapt to the evolving dynamics and uncertainties in the energy sector.

Eni today produces and sells increasingly decarbonized and customer-oriented energy products and services with the best available technologies and cutting-edge solutions. Mr Descalzi’s vision includes advancing Eni’s participationintransition-linkedprojectssuch as biorefining, carbon capture and storage, and the magnetic confinement fusion as a strategic investor of Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

Firmly believing that the success of the transition depends on making it economically affordable and attracting capital, Eni has developed the “satellite model” to create entities that can independently access capital markets to finance their own growth. Mr Descalzi significantly expanded Eni’s global footprint through strategic partnerships and collaborations with international companies and local entities. By fostering significant efforts in R&D initiatives, he has bolstered Eni’s technological capabilities, consistently pushing the technological advancements and reinforcing Eni’s position as a global energy technological company. Eni has set ambitious targets for emissions reduction, with the aim to reach net-zero by 2050. In 2014 Descalzi co-founded the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative, collaborating with other industry leaders to address global climate challenges.

Mr Descalzi’s leadership abilities are further underlined by the various accolades he has received. In 2012, he became the first European to receive the prestigious Charles F. Rand Memorial Gold Medal and in 2022 he was honoured with the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished Business Leadership Award. Eni’s journey under Mr Descalzi is testimony to his visionary leadership and a steadfast dedication to a sustainable future.