Vodafone has announced a number of changes to its
organisational structure and new senior management
appointments.
The changes come after
Vodafone issued a sales warning for the year in July. For the
first quarter ended 30 June, year-on-year sales rose 19.1% to
£9.8bn. But the firm said the sales performance for the full year
was "now expected to be around the bottom of the £39.8bn to £40.7bn
outlook range" it previously forecast.
Vodafone said its outlook reflected first quarter performance,
recent economic weakness and lower than expected equipment
revenue.
With effect from 1 October, Michel Combes will join Vodafone as
CEO for the Europe Region. In this role he will be responsible for
all markets currently part of the Europe Region, together with
global marketing and global technology, and Vodafone business
services. He will also join the Vodafone executive committee.
For the last two years, Combes has been chairman and CEO of TDF
Group, the private equity backed French operator of shared
facilities and terrestrial networks in Europe.
He previously spent a number of years with France Telecom in
senior management positions.
Vittorio Colao, Vodafone Group chief executive, said "I am
pleased that we have recruited someone of Michel's talents and
expertise. I am confident that he will bring significant experience
to Vodafone, given his impressive telecoms and entrepreneurial
background."
Vodafone Group has also announced that Paul Donovan, CEO for the
EMAPA region, has decided to leave Vodafone at the end of this
year. He will continue in his position until 1 January 2009.
Commenting on his departure, Colao said, "I want to extend my
thanks and appreciation for all that Paul has done for our
business, and in particular his role in expanding our emerging
markets portfolio. We wish him well in the future."
Vodafone Group has announced that the EMAPA region will be
reorganised into two regions with effect from 1 January 2009,
consisting of Central Europe/Africa Region, and the Asia-Pacific
Region.
The two regional CEOs will join the executive committee and
these appointments will be announced in due course, said
Vodafone.
In addition, Vodafone's investment in Verizon Wireless will now
not be part of any operating region, and, in light of its financial
and strategic importance to the group, will be managed directly at
a senior level by Vittorio Colao, Andy Halford and Terry
Kramer.
With immediate effect, Kramer will become the group strategy and
business improvement director.
In this role he will be responsible for strategy development,
for the initiatives aimed at productivity and efficiency gains
across the group, and the governance and co-ordination of the
relationship with Verizon Wireless.
Kramer will also continue in his role as group HR director,
whilst the company conducts a search for his successor in this
role.