The surprise move comes just months after Mondazzi, Eni's long-time chief financial officer, took up the role as part of a strategic overhaul and the group builds up its alternative energy solutions business.

Under the move, Eni split its business between the Natural Resources division, responsible for its upstream oil and gas business and Energy Evolution, which contains its power generation and marketing, ranging from fossil fuels to bio and green energy.

Eni Chief Executive Claudio Descalzi said Mondazzi would be appointed to the board of directors of Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, a think tank founded by the group. He did not give details.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; editing by Francesca Landini)