A source close to Vivendi has revealed the names of the two people they think are most likely to get the TIM CEO job vacated this week by Amos Genish.

They are Alfredo Altavilla and Luigi Gubitosi, both current TIM board members, who were proposed by activist investor group Elliott when it purged the board after winning its struggle with Vivendi in May of this year. If Altavilla got the gig he would have the added benefit of being the Chairman of the TIM Nomination and Remuneration Committee, which sets executive pay.

The same source, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, also advised that Genish was about to get on the plane to Korea to sign a new 5G deal with Samsung last Sunday (11/11) when he read rumours of his demise. Apparently he got in touch with TIM Chairman Fulvio Conti, also proposed by Elliott, who gave him written confirmation that they were greatly exaggerated and that no board meeting had been scheduled. On the back of this reassurance Genish got on the plane, only to be told subsequently that the meeting was taking place. As we know, that was where the decision was made to boot him out. Very sneaky.

“It is ironic that the people who worked together to oust Amos Genish are now fighting for his job and the company is in more disarray than ever,” the source told us. They also advised that Genish feels betrayed by the people who conspired to get rid of him, although he plans to fight on as a board member.

If our admittedly pro-Vivendi source is correct and Elliott is successful in installing once of its people as CEO then it will have run out of scapegoats. TIM will have an Elliot board and an Elliott CEO, so the buck stops there regarding its business performance. How Vivendi reacts to such an outcome will be critical and it could push for another AGM and board vote.

We have contacted TIM for comment and are awaiting response.