Pro-Putin businessman emerges as pick to chair Italy’s biggest energy firm

Paolo Scaroni’s appointment as Enel CEO would send a ‘negative signal’ about the direction of Italy’s energy policy, observers say. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

An energy industry veteran who nurtured close ties with Vladimir Putin and has criticised sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine has emerged as the frontrunner to chair Italy’s biggest utility company.

Paolo Scaroni is the preferred candidate of the ruling coalition government of Giorgia Meloni to chair Enel.