Vivendi: Telecom Italia will remain Italian

The chief executive of media group Vivendi says it has no plans to push for a merger between its subsidiary Telecom Italia (TIM) and French counterpart Orange, and has insisted that TIM will remain an Italian company. Arnaud de Puyfontaine told La Stampa that Vivendi’s investment in the Italian telco – in which it is the largest shareholder with a 24% stake – is strategic and long term. Vivendi executive Amos Genish has been installed as Telecom Italia’s general manager for operations following the departure last week of former CEO Flavio Cattaneo.