Telecom Italia CEO Exits With $29 Million After Vivendi Rift
- Departure clears way for Vivendi’s Genish to take over
- French owner seeks to jump start expansion phase at carrier
Flavio Cattaneo Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg
Telecom Italia SpA Chief Executive Officer Flavio Cattaneo will leave the company after agreeing to a 25 million-euro ($29.1 million) severance package, paving the way for top shareholder Vivendi SA to install a fourth CEO at the phone carrier in less than four years.
Cattaneo, 54, leaves after 16 months with one of the richest golden parachutes ever granted in Italy. He’ll get 22.9 million euros owed because of his contract, including a “special award,” as well as a 2.1 million-euro non-competition fee when he leaves on July 28, the Milan-based company said Monday. Telecom Italia’s auditors expressed a negative opinion of the mutual termination agreement, which was approved by the board.