(Telecompaper) Telecom Italia announced that negotiations are underway on an agreement for CEO Marco Patuano to leave the company. No details on the reason for his departure or his replacement were given. According to media reports over the weekend, Patuano has clashed with Telecom's new shareholder Vivendi over whether to sell the company's unit in Brazil. Chairman Giuseppe Recchi will assume Patuano's duties until a replacement is appointed, two unnamed officials at the operator told Bloomberg. The leading candidate to succeed him is Flavio Cattaneo, CEO of high-speed train operator Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori, according to the report.