Renato Soru
Renato Soru | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 6, 1957 Sanluri, Sardinia, Italy |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, politician |
| Known for | Founder of Tiscali, former president of Sardinia |
Renato Soru (born 6 August 1957) is an Italian businessman and politician, recognized as the founder of the internet service provider Tiscali, which is based in Cagliari. In September 2001, Forbes ranked him among the wealthiest people globally, estimating his net worth at over $4 billion.
Early life and education
Soru was born in Sanluri, located on the island of Sardinia. He completed his higher education at Bocconi University in Milan.
Career
In 2004, Soru was chosen as president of Sardinia, representing a centre-left alliance. During his tenure, he focused on stimulating the regional economy by attracting outside investment. He stepped down on 28 November 2008 and later ran for another term in February 2009 but was defeated by the right-wing candidate Ugo Cappellacci from Popolo della Libertà.
On 20 May 2008, Soru expanded his involvement in media by purchasing the left-leaning newspaper l'Unità.
Controversies
On 5 May 2016, Soru received a three-year prison sentence for tax evasion linked to a €2.6 million loan between Andalas Ltd. and Tiscali. However, the Italian Court of Appeal annulled this verdict on 8 May 2017, fully exonerating him.