The top manager Vittorio Colao, Vodafone's number one until last September, will not become the General Manager of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. It was the Financial Times that revealed the future of the top manager from Brescia, anticipating the news according to which Colao has signed a contractual agreement with the American private equity fund General Atlantic of which it will become super-adviser.
Those who hoped that Colao's sporting passion, above all for racing bicycles, would push him towards a return to his homeland and towards the Milan-Cortina Olympics will be disappointed, but a talent like that of the Italian top manager could not remain on the bench or remain too long away from business.
With the engagement of Colao – who will find alongside him other top managers of the caliber of former Axa n.1, Henri de Castries, and former Bertelsmann manager, Achim Berg – General Atlantic, which has a portfolio of 31 billion and which has completed 340 transactions so far, hopes to make the definitive leap in quality.
Colao will have to try to repeat success stories such as those managed, cultivated and launched by the American fund with Uber and Airbnb. His task will be to find startups with great potential and bring them to full market success.
