Wikipedia

Silvio Scaglia

Silvio Scaglia (born 14 October 1958) is a Swiss-born media and technological entrepreneur. Scaglia is the founder of Fastweb, an Italian telecommunications company. He also founded Freedom Holding (formerly Pacific Global Management Group),[1] a holding company that controls the Elite World Group.[2] In 2020, he founded SHS management, an AI-powered asset management company.[3][4]

Silvio Scaglia
Born (1958-10-14) 14 October 1958 (age 65)
Lucerne Switzerland
OccupationEntrepreneur
Known forFounding Fastweb
Spouses
  • Monica Aschei
    ​
    (div. 2018)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 2019; sep. 2022)​

Early life and education edit

Scaglia was born on 14 October 1958, in Lucerne, Switzerland. He studied at the Polytechnic University of Turin, which he graduated from in 1983 with a degree cum laude in electronic engineering.[5]

Career edit

Early career edit

After graduation, Scaglia began working at Aeritalia Spazio, where for a time he worked on the Tethered satellite project in partnership with NASA and Martin Marietta, an American aerospace company.[6]

Following his position at Aeritalia Spazio, Scaglia worked for Andersen Consulting as a programmer and then project manager for three years.[6]

In 1986, Scaglia joined McKinsey & Company, a worldwide management consulting firm, where he worked for automotive industry clients in Germany and Italy.[6]

Scaglia also served as a consultant for Italian motor vehicle manufacturer Piaggio & C. SpA.[6]

During the early 1990s, Scaglia became general manager for Piaggio's Spanish subsidiary, working alongside Italian industrialist Giovanni Alberto Agnelli. He was later appointed Senior Vice President at Piaggio, where he led the relaunch of the business outside Europe and re-established the company’s presence in China, India and Latin America under the leadership of Agnelli.[6]

Omnitel edit

In 1995, Scaglia joined Omnitel, now Vodafone Italy, as CEO, where he led the start-up of the company after they had received the second mobile telephone licence in 1994. Scaglia served as CEO of Omnitel until 1999.[7]

Fastweb edit

During his time at Omnitel, Scaglia understood that the technology was now ready to create a fully integrated IP telecommunications network. In July 1999, Scaglia launched e.Biscom along with financier Francesco Micheli and other executives. It was founded with the intention of developing a fully IP, triple-play, fibre-optic network in Italy.[8] e.Biscom became the first operator in the world to use full IP technology and bring fibre-optic networks to both business and residential clients, and launched home telecommunication services.[9]

In March 2000, e.Biscom went public on the Italian New Market Stock Exchange to expand and finance their fibre-optic network in major Italian cities. The IPO of e.Biscom was the second most successful in Italian history. The company reached a valuation of over 10 billion euros and raised 1.6 billion euros which were fully invested to develop Fastweb’s network nationwide.[10]

In January 2001, Scaglia was featured on the cover of Forbes Magazine, in recognition of Fastweb's contribution to telecommunications technology.[11] In 2003, Scaglia was named on the Time Magazine list of most influential innovators in the new technology.[12] He was the only Italian to appear on the “tech survivors” list, a list of fifteen innovation gurus who weathered the boom of the new economy.[13]

In 2004, e.Biscom announced a merger with Fastweb. The merger was finalized by the end of April 2004. e.Biscom took on Fastweb's name, and focused on its core business, creating broadband telecommunications on the Italian landline network.[14]

By 2006, Fastweb was Italy's leading alternative broadband telecommunications provider, with over one million customers and an annual revenue of €1.26 billion. Fastweb was the first company in the world to develop a network entirely based on Internet Protocol (IP) – a system that moves digitalized telephonic communications through routers rather than through traditional telephone exchange allowing voice, broadband data and video to share the same network. It was also the first company in the world to develop a public network using fibre optics for retail consumers. On 12 March 2007, Swisscom, the Swiss telecommunications provider, offered 5.7 billion Euros to acquire Fastweb.[citation needed]

On 10 April 2007, Scaglia, Fastweb's majority shareholder, sold his shares in the company, equivalent to 18.7% of the company's share capital, to Swisscom. Scaglia remained at the company as an administrator of the Board of Directors before leaving on 19 June 2007.[15]

Babelgum edit

On 5 March 2007, Scaglia founded Babelgum,[16] an interactive television platform offering free, high definition video content on demand. He described it as “a kind of professional alternative to YouTube.”[17] The company aimed to combine the “immersive viewing experience” and visual quality of traditional television with the features made possible by the internet.[18]

On 1 September 2007, Babelgum launched the Babelgum Online Film Festival, the first global online film festival dedicated to independent film. Viewers voted for the shortlists while a professional jury, chaired by Spike Lee, selected the winners. Lee said the platform was an innovative format for young filmmakers to showcase their talents.[19]

In 2012, after interrupted activity due to Scaglia's legal issues, Babelgum went into liquidation and the platform was shuttered.[20]

Elite World edit

In 2011, Scaglia acquired Elite World, SA, the largest international network of model management agencies and world’s first talent media network.[21]

In the years immediately following its acquisition by Scaglia, Elite World saw a significant boost in its business: with a new focus on digital marketing strategies and strategic acquisitions, the company was well-positioned for growth. It was the first international network of modelling agencies to open an office in China, in Shanghai, in 2012.[22] In 2013, Elite World launched The Society Management New York.[23] In that same year, it acquired Women Management in both New York and Paris.[24]

La Perla edit

On 4 June 2013, Scaglia's SMS Finance firm won a bid to acquire lingerie and fashion brand La Perla with an offer of 69 million euros.[25] In an interview with daily La Repubblica, he said, “After Omnitel and Fastweb I will personally give La Perla my all: for me, this is a personal challenge I am firmly committed to” attempting to quash the doubts raised over the genuineness of his interest in supporting La Perla.[26]

Under Scaglia's leadership, La Perla underwent significant brand repositioning which despite a rise in sales, left the company unable to recoup the capital invested.[27][28]

In February 2018, La Perla was sold to Sapinda Holding BV.[29]

Yewno edit

In 2016, through his Pacific Capital investment fund (now Freedom Holding Inc.), Scaglia invested in Yewno, the “discovery platform” developed by Ruggero Gramatica through contributions from Stanford University.[30]

SHS edit

In 2020 Scaglia founded SHS A.M., a knowledge-based, quantitative asset management company.[31]

Legal troubles edit

Between 2010 and 2013, Scaglia was accused of fraud. He was ultimately acquitted of all charges that Giancarlo Capaldo, a public prosecutor in Rome, had levelled against him.[32]

Fastweb investigation - Telecom Italia Sparkle

As former CEO of Fastweb, Scaglia was under investigation for the crime of “conspiracy to commit tax fraud” in the Fastweb-Telecom Italia Sparkle investigation.[33] The alleged tax evasion crimes, brought on by various paid service operators which used the Fastweb and Telecom Italia Sparkle networks, were said to have occurred between 2003-2006.[34]

On 23 February 2010, the Rome judge overseeing preliminary investigations issued a preventive detention order for Scaglia, among others, in response to a request by the anti-mafia public prosecutor's office.[35] Through his lawyers, Scaglia agreed to come in for questioning and returned to Italy on a private flight from Antigua on 26 February 2010.[36]

On 23 November 2010, the trial began.[37] On 24 February 2011, after nearly a year of preventive detention, Scaglia was released on the order of judges of the First Penal Section of the Court of Rome.[38]

On 17 October 2013, the same court issued a sentence acquitting Scaglia of all charges and establishing his “complete non-involvement in the matter."[39] On 27 September 2017, Rome's Court of Appeal upheld the acquittal of Silvio Scaglia in agreement with the 2013 verdict of the First Penal Section of the Court of Rome.[40]

The national press largely reported on the incident, qualifying the court case as “unjust” and a process which “damaged the national economy”.[41][42]

On 27 October 2013, Scaglia's judicial ordeal was quoted by the soon-to-be prime minister Matteo Renzi at the Leopolda meeting in Florence[43] as an injustice that should no longer occur.[44]

Personal life edit

Scaglia’s first wife was Monica Aschei. He announced his intention to divorce in 2017 [45] which was finalized in 2018.[46]

Scaglia has three adult children from his first marriage. His oldest, Chiara Scaglia, was previously in a leadership position at La Perla and continues to work in the fashion industry.[47][48] Scaglia was married to Julia Haart. In early 2022, Haart filed for divorce.

Scaglia is currently engaged to socialite Michelle-Marie Heinemann. In January 2023 it was announced that Mrs. Michelle-Marie Heinemann legally took the surname of Scaglia.[49]

Silvio Scaglia is a great lover of the sea and an expert diver. In 2011 he acquired the Galileo G yacht from the Perini Navi shipyard, which he ordered for construction with icebreaker class specifications to be able to face voyages to the Arctic and Antarctic, with which he crossed the Northwest Passage twice. Equipped with a modern internal diving centre, it has sailed all the seas of the world being able to dive in exclusive places.[50]

 
Galileo G anchored in Alghero Bay, Sardinia

On 1 March 2010, he was number 937 on the Forbes list of the world's billionaires.[51]

References edit

  1. ^ "PGM acquires Women Paris and New York". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  2. ^ "Scaglia trasferisce la cassaforte nel Delaware (in Italian)". 2 January 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  3. ^ Morya Longo (29 June 2021). "Scaglia, nuova vita nei fondi quant 2.0". Il Sole 24 Ore (in Italian). Rome. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Dopo Telefonia Mobile, Fibra e Moda, adesso Silvio Scaglia punta su una nuova generazione di fondi automatizzati", Marco Barlassina, Capital, pp.38-39, July 2021.
  5. ^ Willis, Simon. "Silvio Scaglia" (PDF). Thought Leaders. Essays from Urban Innovators. Connected Cities. Cisco Systems. p. 114. Retrieved 4 August 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Le Nuove Vite di Scaglia". Forbes.it (in Italian). 23 October 2017.
  7. ^ "Scaglia, detto il mago, tra i 1000 piu ricchi del pianeta". Corriere della Sera.
  8. ^ Achieving the Triple Play: Technologies and Business Models for Success, International Engineering Consortium, 2006, pp.89-103
  9. ^ "e.Biscom, chiusa l'Ops 3 milioni di adesioni". La Repubblica (in Italian).
  10. ^ "Un debuto boom per Biscom". La Repubblica (in Italian).
  11. ^ Heller, Richard (22 January 2001). "A fiber niche is nice - Forbes". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  12. ^ Halper, Mark (28 July 2003). "E.Biscom: SILVIO SCAGLIA/Milan". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  13. ^ "E.Biscom: SILVIO SCAGLIA/Milan, by Mark Halper, Monday, July 21, 2003". Time Magazine.
  14. ^ "e.Biscom Fastweb Merger Approved". Lightreading.
  15. ^ "Scaglia si dimette dal cda di Fastweb". Repubblica (In Italian).
  16. ^ "Babelgum's Big Bet on Internet TV". Bloomberg. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  17. ^ Sylvers, Eric (4 March 2007). "FastWeb founder turns his attention to Internet television and video-on-demand". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  18. ^ "Gorillaz Tale Makes Tracks Online". The Independent. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  19. ^ "Spike Lee Launches Babelgum". Variety. 8 September 2008. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  20. ^ "History from babelgum.com webpage". Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  21. ^ "From Elite models to La Perla lingerie: Silvio Scaglia's growing fashion empire". Arabian Business. 21 February 2015.
  22. ^ "Elite Asia (Shanghai, China) Modeling Agency - models.com Agency Profile". models.com. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  23. ^ "A New Model Modelling Agency". Business of Fashion. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2012.
  24. ^ Martens, Cynthia (16 December 2013). "PGM Acquires Women Management Agency Branches". WWD.com. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  25. ^ "Sms Finance acquires La Perla for 69 million euros - CPP-LUXURY". 4 June 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  26. ^ Elemedia (4 June 2013). "Scaglia si prende La Perla per 69 milioni - Repubblica.it". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  27. ^ "Luxury business digest with expert analysis by Alessandro Maria Ferreri (January 2018)". Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  28. ^ "From Elite models to La Perla lingerie: Silvio Scaglia's growing fashion empire". Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  29. ^ "La Perla Aquisita da Sapinda Holding". Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  30. ^ Martin, Scott (14 June 2016). "WSJ Yewno Emerges With $10M for Contextual-Search Results". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  31. ^ Morya Longo (29 June 2021). "Scaglia, nuova vita nei fondi quant 2.0". Il Sole 24 Ore. Rome. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  32. ^ "Fastweb-Telecom Sparkle, assoluzione definitiva per Scaglia e 5 manager". reuters.com/. 5 March 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Italian Prosecutor Drops Call to Put Fastweb and Sparkle Into Administration". ihsmarkit.com/. 4 July 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Swisscom caught up in Italian tax scam probe". swissinfo.ch. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  35. ^ "TI loses its Sparkle; Scaglia taken into custody". Comms Update.com/. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  36. ^ "Scaglia atterra nella notte e si consegna ai giudici. Article from Italian magazine Il Giornale". Il Giornale. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Former Italian telecoms executives go on trial". Financial Times. 2 November 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  38. ^ "UPDATE 1-Fastweb founder Scaglia freed". Reuters. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  39. ^ "Italy's Fastweb founder acquitted of tax fraud". Reuters. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  40. ^ "Court confirms acquittal of Fastweb founder". Telecompaper. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  41. ^ "La Malagiustizia Che Ci Ha Ucciso L'Economia". Libero Quotidiano.
  42. ^ "Scaglia e gli altri i 10 errori più clamorosi del 2013". Tempi. 27 December 2013.
  43. ^ The focus on the defendant's guarantees, "in our country, has deep roots and good arguments, long before at the Leopolda the story of Silvio Scaglia was reminded": Buonomo, Giampiero (2014). "La responsabilità civile dei magistrati". Mondoperaio Edizione Online. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  44. ^ "Renzi parla della riforma della giustizia". Sole 24 ORe.
  45. ^ "Luxury business digest with expert analysis by Alessandro Maria Ferreri (January 2018)". Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  46. ^ "Scaglia divorzia anche in affari ma il riassetto costa caro - la Repubblica.it". Archivio - la Repubblica.it (in Italian). Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  47. ^ "La Perla's Chiara Scaglia gears up for deeper China push with new HK store". South China Morning Post. 2 January 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  48. ^ Lee, Natalie (10 June 2015). "The 25-Year-Young Entrepreneur". Tatler Singapore. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  49. ^ https://resident.com/2023/01/24/michelle-marie-heinemann-has-legally-changed-her-name-to-michelle-marie-scaglia/
  50. ^ https://www.superyachttimes.com/yacht-news/the-road-less-travelled-galileo-g
  51. ^ "Silvio Scaglia". Forbes. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
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