Colzani, who has spent 28 years at Unilever, will take the reins at Barilla in October, it was announced today (22 June).
He replaces Massimo Potenza, who left Barilla last year amid disagreement with the three brothers that own the company over the future direction of the business.
One of Colzani's first tasks will be to oversee the possible sale of Barilla's German baking business Lieken.
Barilla announced this week it was putting Lieken on the block. As with other baking businesses in Europe, input costs have hit margins at Lieken.