MILAN, Italy -- Global private equity firm The Carlyle Group today announces the appointment of Marco De Benedetti as Managing Director and Head of the Italian buyout team based in Milan. Mr De Benedetti, who was previously CEO of Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM), will lead a team focused on buyout opportunities in Italy.

Marco De Benedetti will become a key member of the European senior buyout team, and a member of the Investment Committee of Carlyle Europe Partners II, a €1.8 billion fund. He will also be a member of the Global Telecom and Media group which looks at assets on a global basis in the sector.

Marco De Benedetti commented, “I am delighted to be joining Carlyle. It has a strong and well respected team across Europe and on a global level. I believe there are many opportunities across industry sectors in the Italian market, and I look forward to building our presence in the region.”

The European buyout team is composed of 34 investment professionals based in Paris, London, Munich, Milan and Barcelona. Recent transactions completed by the team include the acquisition of Britax Childcare in the UK, the sale of Terreal in France and the sale of Saprogal in Spain. In Italy, the buyout team has invested in Avio SpA, Riello and Tecnoforge.

Jean-Pierre Millet, Managing Director and Head of the European buyout fund said, “I am very pleased Marco De Benedetti is joining our team. His operational experience, deep telecoms expertise as well as his M&A experience make him an excellent choice to lead our operations in Italy.”

In 1999, Marco De Benedetti became CEO of Telecom Italian Mobile. Prior to TIM, he was Chairman of Infostrada, the main Italian alternative fixed-line carrier for voice services and internet access, and CEO of Olivetti Telemedia, the telecommunications and multimedia business of Olivetti. Between 1987 and 1989 Mr De Benedetti worked for Wasserstein, Perrella & Co in New York in the Mergers & Acquisitions team. Marco De Benedetti has a Masters degree in History and Economics from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and an MBA from Wharton Business School in Philadelphia.

Carlyle Venture Partners