UniCredit is expected to name a longtime senior executive with experience outside Italy to run the bank, which ousted its well-known chief executive, Alessandro Profumo, last week, people familiar with the matter said.

The bank's board was expected to appoint Federico Ghizzoni as chief executive at a meeting on Thursday in Warsaw, people familiar with the matter said. The appointment of Ghizzoni, who was nominated to the post by the bank's chairman and has the support of UniCredit's shareholders, is expected to be announced on Thursday.