UniCredit chief executive Jean Pierre Mustier compares his overhaul of the Italian bank to running a marathon: the first third has been completed, but there is still a long way to go and the last few kilometres are the most difficult.
This means keeping up the furious pace that he has set for the bank since taking over as CEO in July 2016. The strategy is ambitious, but analysts are feeling more confident that the bank will pass the finishing line since the release of fourth-quarter and financial year results in February 2018.