Vittorio Colao has joined the global growth equity firm General Atlantic as special advisor.
Formerly the group chief executive of Vodafone Group, he will advise General Atlantic and its portfolio companies as the firm continues to execute on its global growth investing strategy.
Commenting on the appointment, Bill Ford, CEO of General Atlantic, said: “Vittorio shares our enduring conviction in the macro trends that are driving growth, including the transition to a digital economy and the transformative effect 5G will have on the tech sector.
“Vittorio’s track record at Vodafone is a testament to his ability to drive major change. His experience and insights will be immensely valuable to our portfolio worldwide and will also help us to uncover new opportunities to invest in innovative businesses.”
Colao said: “General Atlantic’s singular focus on investing in global growth companies sets it apart in the current phase of technology-driven opportunities. I admire the firm’s approach to working with companies to support and accelerate their growth in a fast digitizing economy, based on commitment to patience and purpose as pillars of its investment philosophy. In both the near and longer term, it will be critical to support and nurture those companies at the forefront of the digital transition in a dynamic – yet sustainable – way, as technology reshapes entire industries, sectors and markets.”
Gabriel Caillaux, MD and head of EMEA for General Atlantic, added: “We actively seek partnerships with innovators and entrepreneurs who are looking not only for capital, but for specialist expertise and counsel on how to scale a business at a regional and global level in a rapidly shifting market.
“We look forward to working with Vittorio to help navigate the unique set of opportunities and challenges faced by growth companies today.”
Colao was over 20 years with Vodafone Group, 10 of which were as group chief executive.
He currently serves as a non-executive director at Unilever in the UK/Netherlands and Verizon in the US.
