Mediolanum's founder made his son CEO in 2008, then handed him the chair in 2021

On 30 July 2008, Banca Mediolanum's board appointed Massimo Doris, 40, chief executive and general manager — the first big step in founder Ennio Doris's succession plan for the bank he had created 26 years earlier.

Ennio, then 68, had deliberately given his son a long apprenticeship: Massimo sold Mediolanum policies while still at university, worked at three London investment banks, moved through the commercial and marketing structures, and from 2005 to 2008 ran Banco de Finanzas e Inversiones (now Banco Mediolanum) in Spain as CEO and general manager.

The founder stayed on as chairman, telling La Stampa he had no intention of retiring but wanted his son's help — and advising investors to buy Mediolanum shares, saying he had personally taken his stake above 40 percent.

The Italian press called it a succession prepared in every detail: Massimo, the eldest son, had grown up inside the 'bank without branches' built on a network of family bankers that numbered more than 5,000 consultants.

A family-controlled Italian bank kept growing under the founder's son — CEO since July 2008, chairman since September 2021 — worth about €6.4 billion at Piazza Affari.

Two decades of apprenticeship meant the heir knew the business from policy sales to foreign subsidiaries.

The founder stayed as chairman, giving the market a continuity anchor while the son learned the top job.

The Spanish CEO posting gave Massimo real general-management experience before Milan.

The family's majority stake and clear communication removed succession doubt for clients and staff.

Put the heir through every role the business has: Massimo sold policies at university, worked at three London banks, ran the Spanish unit, then took the CEO seat — and the father trusted the handover.

Massimo Doris ran Banca Mediolanum as CEO for thirteen years; in September 2021, Ennio — then 81 — resigned as chairman, becoming honorary chairman, and Massimo took the presidency, completing a handover the founder said was decided long before. The group remains family-controlled and is worth around €6.4 billion at Piazza Affari.