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Italy Replaces National Cybersecurity Chief After Frattasi Resigns

The government is set to propose ex‑Sogei CEO Andrea Quacivi to lead the ACN as a response to lost confidence following recent high‑profile cyber incidents.

Overview

  • Bruno Frattasi submitted his resignation to Palazzo Chigi and left the post on Thursday, May 21, 2026, citing personal reasons while government sources say trust in his leadership had eroded.
  • Andrea Quacivi, the former CEO of Sogei, is the leading candidate and is expected to be formally proposed to the Council of Ministers imminently.
  • The move follows a string of high‑visibility cyber incidents — including attacks on the Uffizi, the November 2025 Almaviva breach, and intrusions tied to IBM — that exposed gaps in institutional IT defenses and coordination.
  • Reporting requirements under the EU NIS2 directive expanded the pool of monitored entities to roughly 22,000, driving a sharp rise in recorded cyber events and raising ACN’s operational workload.
  • The leadership change will shape how ACN coordinates with the Defence ministry, Polizia postale/CNAIPIC and intelligence services and could influence ongoing debates over giving the armed forces a more operational cyber role.