Massimo Sarmi
Chief Executive Officer, Poste Italiane
Biography
Massimo Sarmi was born in Malcesine (Verona) on 4 August 1948. He has been CEO of Poste Italiane Group since May 2002, and Chairman of MedioCredito Centrale SpA since August 2011.
After graduating with honors in electronic engineering from La Sapienza University in Rome, he specialised in electronic engineering for telecommunications at the Galileo Ferraris Institute in Turin.
Massimo Sarmi began his career as an engineer in the Italian Air Force and then moved on to Telecom Italia Group (known at the time as Sip), where he was involved in the development of telecommunications and mobile phone services.
In 1995, he became the first General Manager of TIM (Telecom Italia Mobile), the new company resulting from the mobile division’s split with Telecom. In this role, he contributed to the growth of the mobile telecommunications market in Italy by introducing Pay As You Go SIM cards. In 1998, he appointed General Manager of the parent company Telecom Italia.
In 2000, he was appointed CEO and General Manager of Siemens Italia, a position which he left shortly thereafter, in 2002, to become CEO of Poste Italiane.
With his leadership in Poste Italiane, he started a strategy based on technological innovation, increasing the range of services, and entering new business sectors. Since his arrival, results have been very impressive not only from a financial standpoint, with turnover back in the black and currently still growing, but also in terms of the Group’s national and international reputation.
In November 2009, the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano conferred on him the title of “Cavaliere del Lavoro” (a knighthood for his service to Italian industry).
Since June 2010, he has been Chairman of the Global Cyber Security Center (GCSEC), a non-profit foundation specialising in research, training, and cooperative efforts in IT security.
He also covers, since May 2011, the role of deputy-chairman of the Industrial Union of Naples, in charge of services for small and medium businesses.