I have read on an Italian forum that Alitalia have sold the ground handling division in Heathrow. The CEO had said about two years ago that they would just keep self handling and third party handling in Rome's hub
Apparently AZ have sold their ground handling to GH which is an Italian ground handling company based in various Italian airports (although not in Rome and Milan):
GH Italia - The Ground Handling Network
Sorried to see another airline that has been operating in Heathrow since so many years exit the ground handling market.