Satellite broadcaster Sky Italia has confirmed that current KPN CEO Maximo Ibarra will take over as its new chief executive on 01 October immediately after leaving the Dutch operator. In a statement cited by La Stampa and other Italian dailies, Sky Italia said Ibarra’s background played a key role in his appointment ahead of the launch of its telecommunications service later this year. “The upcoming launch of the broadband offer will allow us to further expand our business in a very important area for our customers and one in which Maximo has great experience,” said Andrea Zappia, former Sky Italia CEO and current head of Comcast-owned Sky’s operations in continental Europe, to whom Ibarra will be directly reporting.
The Colombian-Italian executive became KPN’s first foreign CEO in April 2018 and has helped streamline the Dutch company’s brands and relaunch its FTTH rollout during his time at the helm. Ibarra said he will stay on until September to help with the transition to his successor. He previously had a 5-year stint as CEO of Italian operator Wind, overseeing its merger with 3 Italia before steering the newly-created Wind Tre through the first few months of integration.
Last year Sky said it was planning to enter Italy's fixed broadband market in summer 2019 after signing a long-term agreement with Open Fiber. The deal gives Sky immediate access to a FTTH network that's set to reach the country’s 271 main urban centres by 2022. The pay-TV giant is also reportedly in talks with Vodafone Italia and Telecom Italia about using their frequencies for a Sky-branded mobile service.
