Gianroberto Casaleggio (Italian pronunciation: [dʒanroˈbɛrto kazaˈleddʒo]; 14 August 1954 – 12 April 2016) was an Italian entrepreneur and political activist. He was co-founder and chairman of Casaleggio Associati srl, an internet and publishing company that advises on network strategies. He was editor of Beppe Grillo's blog, and together they founded the Five Star Movement, of which Casaleggio was sometimes called the "guru".[1][2]
Gianroberto Casaleggio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Co-founder of the Five Star Movement | |
| In office 4 October 2009 – 12 April 2016 Serving with Beppe Grillo | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Gianroberto Casaleggio 14 August 1954 Milan, Italy |
| Died | 12 April 2016 (aged 61) Milan, Italy |
| Cause of death | Brain cancer |
| Political party | M5S (2009–2016) |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | |
| Website | casaleggio.it |
In the Italian context, Casaleggio promoted the Web as a medium for political communication.[3]
Biography edit
Born in Milan, Casaleggio began his career working at Olivetti, then, in the late 1990s, became CEO at Webegg, an internet consulting company. Webegg suffered heavy losses (over €20 million) in the period 2002–2003, and Casaleggio was replaced as CEO in 2003 by Giuseppe Longo.[4] In 2004, Casaleggio founded Casaleggio Associati, an internet consulting company that carries out research on e-commerce in Italy and whose findings are presented at a conference held in Milan every spring (since 2006).
Casaleggio Associati became the editor of Beppe Grillo's blog in 2005, as well as of some of Grillo's books. Casaleggio Associati was also editor of the web-blog of Antonio Di Pietro until 2010,[5] and the website of Chiarelettere, an editor, until 2013, when he was dismissed following disagreement over the editorial strategy.[6][7]
Casaleggio died on 12 April 2016 in Milan, at the age of 61, after a long period of illness.[8]
Family edit
After Gianroberto's death, his son Davide was appointed to replace him as president of Casaleggio Associati.[9]
References edit
- ^ Marco Alfieri (26 May 2012). "Grillo e l'ombra di Casaleggio il guru con il mito di Re Artù". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ Emiliano Liuzzi (8 September 2012). "Il guru Casaleggio esce dall'ombra: "Non decido io"". il Fatto Quotidiano (in Italian). Retrieved 20 December 2012.
- ^ Natale, Simone; Ballatore, Andrea (1 January 2014). "The web will kill them all: new media, digital utopia, and political struggle in the Italian 5-Star Movement". Media, Culture & Society. 36 (1): 105–121. doi:10.1177/0163443713511902. hdl:2318/1768935. ISSN 0163-4437. S2CID 73517559. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
- ^ "Telecom Italia rinuncia al controllo di Webegg". MF Milano Finanza (in Italian). 6 April 2004.
- ^ Ettore Colombo (3 November 2012). "Grillo-Di Pietro, il piano per le elezioni"Ingroia candidato premier"". Il Messaggero (in Italian). Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ Francesco Oggiano (July 8, 2013). "Il guru dimezzato". Vanity Fair (in Italian). Archived from the original on July 12, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2013.
- ^ Paolo Bracalini (12 November 2012). "Quando Travaglio & C. mandarono a quel paese il guru a cinque stelle". il Giornale (in Italian). Retrieved 19 December 2012.
- ^ "M5s, è morto Gianroberto Casaleggio Fotostoria| Le frasi | I video". Corriere.it (in Italian). 12 April 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2016.
- ^ Horowitz, Jason, "With Success Comes Dissension in Italy’s Five Star Movement", New York Times, 12 December 2016. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
Sources edit
- (in Italian) Five Star Movement
- (in Italian) Personal website
- John Hooper (3 January 2013). "Italy's web guru tastes power as new political movement goes viral". The Guardian.
- Peter Popham (7 April 2013). "Italy's web politicians post their dystopic vision". The Independent.