Simmons & Simmons has reshuffled its management board, with Italy head Marco Franzini winning a place on the law firm's main strategy board.

Franzini replaces Portuguese managing partner Pedro Rebelo de Sousa on the 11-member board, which is chaired by senior partner David Dickinson.

In addition, London-based head of financial markets litigation Jonathan Kelly has been re-appointed to the board.

New member Franzini, who joined the Milan office in 1998, also serves as head of the firm's international private equity practice in addition to his Italian leadership role.

His appointment comes as Simmons is in the process of de-merging from its Portuguese operations, which includes offices in Lisbon and Madeira.

Aside from Dickinson, Simmons' managing partner Mark Dawkins and finance director David McLaughlin also sit on the board.

The other full members are London-based capital markets partner Jonathan Hammond, head of China Paul Li, Paris-based corporate and commercial partner Jacques de Taisne, London-based litigation partner Philip Vaughan, as well as non-executive directors Rodger Hughes and Sharon Studer.

Dickinson said: "Marco brings a wealth of experience as both a corporate practitioner and also as a successful leader in the firm's Italian offices."

The board looks forward to benefiting from his input into the firm's strategy and its implementation over the coming years."