Vittorio Colao
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Vittorio Colao | |
 |
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| Born | 1961 (age 46–47) Brescia |
|---|---|
| Residence | United Kingdom |
| Nationality | Italian |
| Education | Bocconi University Harvard University |
| Known for | Omnitel Pronto Italia COO RCS MediaGroup CEO Vodafone Deputy-CEO |
| Spouse | Married 1992 |
| Children | 2 |
| Website Bio at Vodafone |
|
Vittorio Colao (born 1961 in Brescia), is an Italian businessman, the current Chief Executive Designate of Vodafone Group.[1]
The son of an officer in the Carabinieri, Colao was born in 1961 in Brescia.[2] After studying business at Bocconi University and holding an MBA with Honours from Harvard Business School, he spent time in London at investment bankers Morgan Stanley.[3] Colao joined the Milan office of McKinsey & Co in 1986,[4] where as a Partner he worked on media, telecommunications and industrial goods sectors and was responsible for office recruitment.
In 1996 he joined Omnitel Pronto Italia, rising to Chief Operating Officer before its take over to become Vodafone Italy. He became Regional CEO, Southern Europe in 2001 and joined the main board of Vodafone Group Plc's in 2002. After missing out on the CEO's job, taken by his friend Arun Sarin, and having a purchase of a Bulgarian mobile company blocked,[3] Colao left Vodafone for Italian publishing company RCS MediaGroup, where he became CEO in July 2004.[4]
After shareholder criticism of the publishing group's strategy and governance, he resigned from RCS MediaGroup following the company's board meeting of September 12,[5] rejoining Vodafone on October 9, 2006 as CEO Europe and succeeding Sir Julian Horn-Smith as Deputy-CEO.[6]
Commenting to the Italian press in 2007 that he had no interest in taking the CEO's job at Telecom Italia,[7] Colao will succeed Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin from July 29, 2008.[1]
Married in 1992, his wife and two children reside with him in the United Kingdom.[3] Colao is a reserve officer in the Carabinieri.[2][3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Vodafone Announces New Chief Executive. Vodafone (2008-05-27). Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ a b Wearden, Graeme (2008-05-27). Vittorio Colao: from Brescia to the top of Vodafone. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ a b c d Lindsay, Robert (2008-05-27). Who is Colao?. The Times. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ a b Vittorio Colao (86-96 MIL) New CEO of RCS MediaGroup. McKinsey & Co (2004-06-23). Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ RCS CEO resigns after shareholder criticisms. Forbes/AFX News (2006-07-21). Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ Vodafone Names Vittorio Colao European Region Ceo. Dow Jones (2006-09-06). Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
- ^ Blackden, Richard (2008-05-27). Vittorio Colao fends off Vodafone competition. The Telegraph. Retrieved on 2008-05-27.
