Vodafone Effects Major Changes

VODAFONE, one of the world's largest mobile phone companies by revenue, has made a number of changes in its management and organisation by appointing a new boss in Europe and dividing its emerging business division.

The company appointed Michel Combes to the post of Europe chief executive from October 1 this year and said Paul Donovan, the chief executive of the existing emerging division, would leave the company at the end of the year.

Combes, chairman and chief executive of the private equity backed French operator TDF Group, replaces Vittorio Colao who became group chief executive earlier this year.

Combes also spent time at France Telecom in a number of senior positions.

For the last two years Michel 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.

Vodafone has also reorganised its emerging business in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and affiliates into two new units in central Europe and Africa, and Asia Pacific.

Vodafone said under the new system, its investment in Verizon Wireless would not be part of any operating region and would be managed at a senior level by a team including the group chief executive, Colao.

Vodafone owns Verizon Wireless, the second-largest U.S. mobile service provider, with Verizon Communications Inc.

— Reuters