Since Vodafone announced its new structure earlier this year, with two geographic regions and a New Businesses and Innovation Unit to develop the mobile plus strategy, it has seen good progress with new product roll-out including Vodafone At Home, Vodafone Office and broadband products.
The Company today announces that it is devolving the activities of the New Businesses and Innovation Unit into parts of the organisation closer to the customer. The new structure will simplify the organisation and enable the Group functions to work even more closely with the businesses.
In the new stream-lined structure, the Group functions reporting to the European Region together with the operating companies will execute the mobile plus strategy, and a Group Strategy and New Business function will identify new business opportunities and key partnerships.
As a result of these changes, Thomas Geitner, CEO New Businesses and Innovation will step down from the Board of Vodafone at the end of December 2006 after the transition to the new structure.
Mr Geitner joined Vodafone in 2000 as an Executive Director with responsibility for establishing and managing global products and services. In this position he was responsible for establishing Vodafoneas a global brand, for the creation and successful launch of Vodafone live! in 2002 and the establishment of a global supply chain
organisation.
In 2003 he was appointed Vodafone's Chief Technology Officer and in this capacity he initiated and led the One Vodafone programme, established a set of shared service organisations and created the Group's leadership position on 3G across Europe.
Commenting, Chief Executive Arun Sarin said:- "This change is designed to deliver even greater organisational clarity and accountability as we operationalise our new strategy. Recent product announcements including our broadband offerings in the UK, Germany and Italy show how we are able to respond to changing customer needs in individual markets.
"Our operating companies are seeing the significant benefits which can be delivered through the mobile plus strategy and therefore the changes announced today provide the opportunity for our local businesses to roll-out their new products and services at speed.
"Thomas Geitner has made a highly significant contribution to Vodafone Group over the last six years. He has led major integration and transformation programmes for the Group.
"I really appreciate the tremendous service Thomas has provided and we are truly sad to see him leave Vodafone.
On behalf of the Board, I would like to take this opportunity to wish Thomas and his family all the best in the future and to thank him for his leadership and for all he has done for the Company."
- Vodafone Group -
