Mentana’s representative: “I’ll decide once my contract with La7 has ended. Cairo didn’t try to keep me.” The exodus from Gedi

Enrico Mentana, is it true that you’re going to Repubblica, to Gedi, to take up the role of editorial director, head of the new television channel – the new CNN – alongside Andrea Pucci, the director of Mediaset’s TgCom? “I won’t be going. I’m the sort of person who sticks to one job at a time, and that’s the only (non-competition) clause I have with myself. It happened with Rai, and with Canale 5. It will happen again.” And what will you do about Urbano Cairo’s La 7? “I’ll honour the contract, as I was asked – personally implored – to do by Urbano Cairo himself, until the end of December. That’s when my contract ends. Once I’ve finished, I’ll decide.” And what will you decide? “Television is what I enjoy doing.” Does Cairo want to keep you on or not? “Cairo knew everything. I said what I had to say to Dogliani, and I don’t think Cairo asked me to stay.” And Repubblica? “It’s run by Stefano Cappellini, who worked with me on Matrix – a friend.”

It is the August of the exodus, and not just in Ceuta. Today, no manager at "La Repubblica" would recognise Eugenio Scalfari’s daughter if they passed her in the street. "La Repubblica" is being hollowed out, following the resignation of Mario Orfeo and the departure of Francesco Dini, the figurehead of the De Benedetti era. Yesterday, the chief executive of the Gedi News Network, Corrado Corradi, and his deputy, David Blancato, left. In the space of a few months, the company has lost the top executives who, for over twenty years, steered that vessel which De Benedetti used to influence the left and governments (from Veronica Lario’s letters, we have moved on to group chairmen). They are leaving with severance pay covering more than two years’ salary, as is their right. Corradi could go on to work for Leonardo Del Vecchio, the publisher of the new "Quotidiano Nazionale", or for Alberto Leonardis, who has acquired "La Stampa". Sergio Pugliese, head of general services at Gedi, is also leaving. Before Corradi, the head of human resources, Alessandro Bianco (now at "La Stampa"), had already left. Gabriele Acquistapace has been moved to the printing works, in a side role (he is no longer CFO). Michela Marani, CEO of Gedi Periodicals and Services, and Edoardo Biancardi, head of management and control, have also left. Two further departures: Fabiano Begal, head of Digital, and Antonella Caponeri, head of Legal. All that remains of the old Repubblica are the head of Manzoni, CEO Alessandro Furgione, and the head of radio, Carlo Ottino. This is the latest trend at Gedi; just like the managers now leading the group taken over by publisher Theo Kyriakou. The new CFO comes from the fashion industry and the new head of human resources from the pharmaceutical sector. Ideas have reached the point of taking an aspirin.