Franco Bernabè began his long and varied career at Eni in 1983, joining as assistant to the then Chairman Franco Reviglio, before being appointed head of management control in the planning and control department and subsequently central director of the same unit. From 1992 to 1998 he headed Eni as CEO, accompanying the company on its privatization and restructuring process.

On June 12, CEO Claudio Descalzi and Franco Bernabè signed a deed of donation at Palazzo Mattei in Rome, with which Franco Bernabè donated to Eni his personal archive consisting of 40 paper folders and a box set of 5 CDs containing the press review relating to the privatization period.

Franco Bernabè's personal Archive is the result of the work of processing, collecting and producing documentation during his roles at the top of the company. The documentation will be described and organized by Eni's historical Archive, according to international standards of archival description; at the end, appropriate communication will be given to the Lazio Archive Superintendency and a campaign will be launched to promote it and spread knowledge among scholars. The historical Archive will physically host the materials at its headquarters in Castel Gandolfo, allowing consultation upon request.