ROME. The seven golden men have just been appointed, the new course of Rai takes shape and the first controversies are already beginning on the evident management differences. Differences that stand out above all in the concentration of tasks in a few safe hands. The most striking choice concerns the apical area: via Alberto Matassino and his role as General Manager is assumed by the same to Carlo Fuortes.
Thus the Rai Board of Directors, meeting under the chairmanship of Marinella Soldi and in the presence of the Chief Executive Officer Carlo Fuortes, proceeded to designate Ludovico Di Meo as General Manager of San Marino RTV, a company 50% owned by Rai on the basis of an agreement in force between the governments of the two countries. (And therefore he leaves the direction of Rai2).
During the meeting, the Chief Executive Officer Carlo Fuortes also informed the Board of the appointments relating to the corporate area, all covered by internal resources of the Company: Giuseppe Pasciucco, former CFO, is appointed Staff Director of the Chief Executive Officer. Consequently, Marco Brancadoro assumes the role of CFO and Giorgio Russo that of Director of Strategic Planning and Management Control. Roberto Ferrara becomes Director of Canon and Artistic Heritage. Pierluigi Colantoni is entrusted with the Communication Department, (via Marcello Giannotti) which includes the Press Office, of which Stefano Marroni becomes responsible.
Chief Executive Officer Carlo Fuortes has assumed the role of Corporate General Manager on an interim basis.
This is the official statement that has put the unions on a war footing: “Not a great start for the new leaders of Rai in terms of gender equity, which is so much talked about”, reads the document of the Cpo Fnsi and Usugrai. And again: «In a company that already sees women in a strong minority in the top management, these appointments are a clear sign of disinterest in the issue of equal opportunities. A retrograde signal and in marked contrast to the policies in place in the major European public service broadcasters. Honestly, it is offensive simply to think that there were no professionals in the company capable of taking on even one of the assigned roles ».
The Rai Equal Opportunities Commission and the UsigRai Equal Opportunities Commission ask for confirmation of the evaluation of at least one female curriculum for each of the roles taken into consideration as required by the corporate gender policy. And they count on the commitment to a decisive rebalancing of what has been done so far in the upcoming appointments ».
The president of the Rai Supervisory Commission Alberto Barachini also spoke. With reference to the situations of conflict of interest that could affect some members of the new Board of Directors, Barachini sent a letter to the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, deeming it appropriate to recall all the members of the Company’s Board of Directors “with the utmost respect for the principles of autonomy and independence required by the office held, as well as to avoid any situation of conflict of interest, even potential, as required by law and by the Company’s code of ethics “. And in the same letter, he asked to send the Commission all the elements, in the possession of the Company, in support of the absence of conflicts for the current directors.