The Directorate (Governing Board) is a collegial body, subject to Articles 22, 23 and 24 of the Statute, that is made up of the Governor, the Senior Deputy Governor and the three Deputy Governors and authorized to adopt measures of external significance regarding the exercise of the public functions entrusted by law to the Bank in pursuit of its aims, other than decisions falling under the authority of the ESCB.
Resolutions are passed by an absolute majority of those present; where the numbers in a division are equal, the Governor has the casting vote. Minutes are kept of meetings.
Emeritus positions
In accordance with a practice introduced by Governor Einaudi, when members of the Directorate step down, the Board of Directors may designate them emeritus holders of their positions in recognition of the work they have done for the Bank and to keep their link with the Bank alive.
The first person to have this title was Niccolò Introna, Director General from 1945 to 1946 and previously Special Administrator (for the liberated parts of Italy); he was made Director General Emeritus when he resigned. Subsequently, Donato Menichella, Paolo Baffi, Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Antonino Occhiuto, Fabrizio Saccomanni and Vincenzo Desario held emeritus positions; today Mario Draghi is Governor Emeritus.
Holding an emeritus position does not imply the performance of any tasks within the Bank or the receipt of any emoluments. The holders of these positions do not participate in the meetings of the Directorate or the Board of Directors. There is no provision for them to enjoy benefits such as secretarial services or a chauffeured car, they have a single room to use in connection with the keeping of their archives or to carry out tasks related to the positions they held in the Bank.