Ibarra, currently at the helm of KPN had announced earlier on Tuesday he would leave the Dutch phone group in September.

Satellite broadcaster SKY Italia, which is going to launch a phone offer for clients later this year, said in a statement Ibarra's background in telecoms would help it to broaden its business.

Ibarra led Italian phone operator Wind in 2012-2017 and successfully oversaw its merger with rival 3 Italia.

(Reporting by Elvira Pollina, editing by Valentina Za)