Weichai has won the shareholders’ meeting battle for Ferretti’s control, repelling the offensive by the Czech fund KKCG
Total showdown for Ferretti’s control: the Chinese block wins the shareholders’ battle, but the company loses Piero Ferrari and Stefano Domenicali. Today’s meeting, May 14, 2026, decided the future of Ferretti, the world-famous luxury yacht brand. The Chinese Weichai group, already the largest shareholder, won the crucial vote against a Czech billionaire who tried to take over the company. Tan Ning is the new Chairman, but it was a highly tense day: two massive names in Italian industry, Piero Ferrari and Stefano Domenicali (CEO of Formula 1), resigned in protest and left the board of directors.
Who is in Charge Now?
Today’s vote split the company into two factions:
- The Winners: The Chinese Weichai group secured 52% of the votes and will lead the company for the next three years.
- The Losers: Czech rival Karel Komarek stopped at 23% of the votes. Refusing to accept the defeat, he has already asked the Italian Government to step in.
- Legal Drama: Before the voting started, the Czech group’s lawyers tried (and failed) to block the Chinese group’s voting rights, accusing them of buying shares in secret.
Despite the power struggle, the company’s financial health is excellent, and people who invested in Ferretti will receive money:
- Accounts Approved: The company confirmed that the past year was highly successful in terms of sales and profits.
- The Payout per Share: Ferretti will pay a dividend of €0.11 for every single share owned.
- Payment Dates: The financial processing will start on June 15, 2026, and the money will hit shareholders’ bank accounts on June 17, 2026.
The new CEO of Ferretti Group is Stassi Anastassov. With the victory of the Chinese majority shareholder Weichai at the ordinary shareholders’ meeting today, Anastassov takes over the Chief Executive Officer position, replacing the outgoing CEO Alberto Galassi.
Anastassov is a seasoned international executive with a strong corporate background, including prominent past leadership roles at Procter & Gamble. He will lead the company’s executive operations alongside the newly appointed Chairman, Tan Ning.
Stassi Anastassov is a prominent international business executive and the newly designated CEO of Ferretti Group. Appointed by the Chinese majority shareholder Weichai Group, his appointment marks a major corporate transition following the exit of long-time CEO Alberto Galassi. With over 30 years of corporate governance and operational experience, Anastassov specializes in managing and scaling global industrial and consumer consumer brands across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and China. Born in Pleven, Bulgaria, on June 29, 1961, Anastassov holds dual Swedish and Swiss citizenship. He holds an academic background from Uppsala University in Sweden and currently resides in Switzerland. Regarding his executive background, Anastassov has built a distinguished career through high-level executive positions across multiple industries:
- Ferretti Group (2026–Present): Designated as the Chief Executive Officer following Weichai’s victory in the May 2026 shareholder board meeting, leading the luxury yacht group alongside newly appointed Chairman Tan Ning.
- Duracell (2010–2015): Served as the Global President and CEO of Duracell Company when it operated as a subsidiary division of Procter & Gamble.
- Procter & Gamble (1985–2010): Spent 25 years at P&G in diverse leadership roles, including Vice President managing the BabyCare and FemCare categories across Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
- Board memberships & Advisory: Serves as a board member for JS Global Lifestyle Co. Ltd. and acts as a senior private equity consultant and angel investor for various international asset firms, including CDH Investments.