Following Carlo Fuortes’ resignation, Rai’s board of directors announced in a press release dated May 15th that Roberto Sergio will take over as CEO with immediate effect.
Mr. Sergio has said he will appoint Giampaolo Rossi as the company’s managing director.
Having graduated in political and communication science, Roberto Sergio joined Rai in 2004. Until 2007 he was director of the new media sector. Following that he became president of Sipra (which later became Rai Pubblicità), director of Rai Net, Rai Click, Rai Sat and, in 2012, president of Rai Way. In 2017 he was appointed director of Radio Rai.
In 2018 Giampaolo Rossi joined the public broadcaster’s board of directors representing Georgia Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia. Rossi’s political views had become known through his blog published in the newspaper Il Giornale, in particular attacking Italy’s President Mattarella and supporting Vladimir Putin. Since 2018 his blog has been inactive. Formerly president of Rai net, he also supervises the Masters in Media Entertainment at the Link Campus University and is on the board of directors of Confindustria Radio TV and Rai Pubblicità.
First of all Sergio and Rossi will have to define their programme schedule for next season, which will be presented to sponsors in July, and then launch their nominations for the editorial, programme and magazine directors.
Sources: ANSA, Italy 24, Ouest France
