Marco Patuano: Telecom Italia CEO

Marco Patuano was born on June 6, 1964, in Alessandria, Italy. In 1990 he graduated from Bacconi University, specializing in Corporate Finance.

After working for a while in the United States, Marco began his career in Telecom Italia in 1990 working at the main headquarters of the company which was then known as SIP. Through the years Marco has worked in the company financial sector, and played a leading role in a phase in which finance was considered from the point of view of providing support to the growth of the business. This was the period of the merger of Telecom Italia, the spin-off of TIM and the start-up of the mobile telephone company. As chief financial officer Marco made significant contribution to this start-up.

His international experience started in 2003 having been assigned to Latin America. Marco eventually headed operations there and rationalized the business for better performance and returns. He came back to Italy in August 2008 to become the Chief Financial Officer of the Group. 

After becoming a member of the Board of Directors and more promotions he was appointed Managing Director of Telecom Italia on April 13, 2011. 

Franco Bernabé: Italian Executive

Franco Bernabé was born on September 18, 1948 in Vipiteno/Sterzing, Italy.  In 1973 he graduated from the University of Turin and worked as a post-graduate fellow in economics at the Einaudi Foundation from 1973 to 1975. Franco received an honorary Doctor’s degree in Environment Sciences from the University of Parma.

He began his career as a Senior Economist at the OECD Department of Economics and Statistics in Paris. Franco later worked in the planning department of Fiat as a Chief Economist.  He joined Eni in 1983 as an Assistant to the Chairman and became subsequently the Head of Corporate Planning, Financial Control and Corporate Development.

He is best known in Italy for turning around oil company Eni SpA (ENI), overseeing its privatization and making it one of the world’s largest companies by market value.  His stint as CEO of Telecom Italia, the biggest phone company in Italy has not been as successful.  Franco resigned as CEO in October 2013 after clashing with top shareholders in his attempt to boost capital.

He took over a company with a big debt burden and while he made gains in Latin America, overall the debt burden was not fully addressed.  With a severance pay of 3.7 million euros and 2.9 million euros 12- month non-compete agreement it’s not as bad as it seems.

Franco is still active with various business interests.