14 Facts About Giuseppe Orsi

Giuseppe Orsi had a long career at Finmeccanica, Italy's leading high-technology group, and in November 2011 was appointed its chief executive officer and chairman.

Giuseppe Orsi remains free pending an appeal to Italy's Supreme Court.

Giuseppe Orsi is a graduate of Politecnico di Milano, where he received a Doctorate in Aeronautical Engineering.

Giuseppe Orsi served as an officer in the Italian Air Force and is a qualified civil pilot.

Giuseppe Orsi began his career in 1973 at Siai Marchetti, where he was product support director.

In October 2011, Giuseppe Orsi forced the resignation of Lorenzo Borgogni, Finmeccanica's longtime head of external relations, after the latter admitted to interrogators that he had taken millions of euros in bribes from companies that had received Finmeccanica contracts.

Two days later, the firm announced that Giuseppe Orsi had officially resigned as chairman and as a board member.

The Wall Street Journal noted that Giuseppe Orsi's arrest came at a time when prosecutors in various Italian cities were "investigating the company on suspicion that it engaged in corrupt activities to win various types of contracts in Latin America, Asia and at home," probes that had led to other arrests.

Massimo Vecchio, an aerospace analyst for Mediobanca, said that Giuseppe Orsi's arrest risked damaging the international reputation and competitiveness of Finmeccanica.

Giuseppe Orsi was held for some 80 days in pre-trial detention.

Prosecutors alleged that the kickbacks allegedly paid with Giuseppe Orsi's knowledge were standard practice at Finmeccanica.

In July 2014, prosecutors asked that Giuseppe Orsi be sentenced to six years in prison for paying bribes.

In 2010 Giuseppe Orsi was appointed as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and in the same year he was named a 'Freeman of the City of London' by the Mayor of London.

Giuseppe Orsi is a member of the Royal Aeronautical Society.