(Telecompaper) Telecom Italia has temporarily assigned all powers as chief executive to its chief operating officer Marco Patuano following the resignation of chairman Franco Bernabe in a much-anticipated board meeting held on 3 October. Current deputy chairman Aldo Minucci will take over as chairman on a temporary basis as the operator begins its search for a new permanent chairman. In a statement, the company also stated that the board had approved a severance package of EUR 3.7 million for Bernabe, plus an additional EUR 2.9 million as part of a 12-month non-competition agreement. Finally, TI confirmed the appointment of RCS president Angelo Provasoli as an independent director to replace Elio Catania, who resigned in September.