Company
After a successful 23-year career at Fastweb, including ten years as CEO, Alberto Calcagno has decided to step down at the end of September 2023. Fastweb’s Board of Directors has elected Walter Renna as the new CEO with effect from 1 October 2023.
As the figures for the 2022 financial year show, Fastweb is currently very well positioned, strong in the market and ready for the future. Christoph Aeschlimann, Chairman of the Fastweb Board of Directors: “Alberto Calcagno is directly linked to Fastweb’s success story. He has played a key role in shaping our company over the past 23 years, for which I give my sincere thanks.” Since Alberto Calcagno took over as CEO in 2013, Fastweb has continuously increased its customer numbers, revenue and free cash flow, achieving steady growth for 38 consecutive quarters. In this time, the fibre-optic network has also been expanded considerably. Under his leadership, the Business Customer and Wholesale segments have experienced strong growth and new areas, such as Mobile, Cloud and Cybersecurity, were successfully established. Alberto Calcagno joined Fastweb in 2000 as Head of Strategy. He was later appointed CFO, then COO in 2007 and CEO in 2013.
Commenting on the move, Alberto Calcagno said: “I have had an incredibly exciting time in one of the most fascinating companies in Italy. From the advent of fibre in 2000 through to the sophisticated smartphone, fast networks and cloud data, there have been major changes in technology and the way we communicate, both privately and professionally. It is now the right time for me to face new challenges. I would like to thank all employees, customers, partners and our shareholder for the trust they have placed in me.”
Christoph Aeschlimann: “I am delighted that Walter Renna has agreed to become the new CEO of Fastweb. He is a proven expert with extensive management and market experience and detailed knowledge of the telecommunications and technology industry. We have gained a strong leader in Walter. As a member of the Management Board, he has played a key role in shaping Fastweb’s growth story to date and will continue to keep the company on track. Italy is a core market for us and Fastweb is a key part of our strategy; continuity and leadership are therefore vital in this segment.”
Walter Renna (born 1982) will take up his new role as CEO on 1 October 2023. After graduating in Economics from the University of Bologna, he obtained a Master of Science from Bocconi University in Milan. Following his studies, he began his career at KPMG as a consultant in mergers and acquisitions. In 2008, he joined Fastweb in the Strategy team, which he headed until 2018. He then took over as COO; since 2021 he has been Head of Product Design and Delivery, responsible for marketing, communication, product development and IT.
“I am very much looking forward to my new role as CEO and would like to thank the Board of Directors for placing their trust in me,” says Walter Renna. ” I gladly accept this challenge and will give my best to continue our growth story together with the management team and all colleagues”.