As speculation swirls around the potential replacement for departed UniCredit chief executive Alessandro Profumo, it is worth taking a look at the corporate and investment bank at the Italian institution - a unit which produced one of the few bright spots in the group's business last year.

UniCredit confirmed on Wednesday that Alessandro Profumo had stepped down as chief executive, with the board transferring executive powers to chairman Dieter Rampl, who will lead the group until a new chief is appointed.