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Gian Mario Rossignolo, Former Lancia Chief and Telecom Italia President, Dies at 95

Obituaries trace a storied managerial run that ended in legal disgrace tied to his failed De Tomaso relaunch.

Overview

  • Born in 1930 in Vignale Monferrato, Rossignolo studied economics at the University of Turin before beginning his career in banking.
  • He rose through Fiat as a close collaborator of Umberto Agnelli and served as CEO of Lancia from 1977 to 1979.
  • His leadership roles later included the presidencies of Zanussi and Telecom Italia, where he served from 1997 to 1999.
  • Through his company Innovation in Auto Industry, he acquired De Tomaso in 2009 and unveiled the Deauville concept at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show.
  • De Tomaso went bankrupt in 2012, and in 2019 Rossignolo and his son were convicted of fraudulent bankruptcy and fraud, receiving prison sentences and an order to pay about €5 million to the bankruptcy estate.