13th Oct 2006 13:00
Vodafone Group Plc13 October 2006 13 October 2006 ORGANISATIONAL CHANGE Since Vodafone announced its new structure earlier this year, with twogeographic regions and a New Businesses and Innovation Unit to develop themobile plus strategy, it has seen good progress with new product roll-outincluding Vodafone At Home, Vodafone Office and broadband products. The Company today announces that it is devolving the activities of the NewBusinesses and Innovation Unit into parts of the organisation closer to thecustomer. The new structure will simplify the organisation and enable the Groupfunctions to work even more closely with the businesses. In the new stream-lined structure, the Group functions reporting to the EuropeanRegion together with the operating companies will execute the mobile plusstrategy, and a Group Strategy and New Business function will identify newbusiness opportunities and key partnerships. As a result of these changes, Thomas Geitner, CEO New Businesses and Innovationwill step down from the Board of Vodafone at the end of December 2006 after thetransition to the new structure. Mr Geitner joined Vodafone in 2000 as an Executive Director with responsibilityfor establishing and managing global products and services. In this position hewas responsible for establishing Vodafone as a global brand, for the creationand successful launch of Vodafone live! in 2002 and the establishment of aglobal supply chain organisation. In 2003 he was appointed Vodafone's Chief Technology Officer and in thiscapacity he initiated and led the One Vodafone programme, established a set ofshared service organisations and created the Group's leadership position on 3Gacross Europe. Commenting, Chief Executive Arun Sarin said:- "This change is designed to deliver even greater organisational clarity andaccountability as we operationalise our new strategy. Recent productannouncements including our broadband offerings in the UK, Germany and Italyshow how we are able to respond to changing customer needs in individualmarkets. "Our operating companies are seeing the significant benefits which can bedelivered through the mobile plus strategy and therefore the changes announcedtoday provide the opportunity for our local businesses to roll-out their newproducts and services at speed. "Thomas Geitner has made a highly significant contribution to Vodafone Groupover the last six years. He has led major integration and transformationprogrammes for the Group. "I really appreciate the tremendous service Thomas has provided and we are trulysad to see him leave Vodafone. On behalf of the Board, I would like to take thisopportunity to wish Thomas and his family all the best in the future and tothank him for his leadership and for all he has done for the Company." - ends- For further information: Vodafone Group Investor RelationsTel: +44 (0) 1635 664447 Media RelationsTel: +44 (0) 1635 664444 (c) Vodafone Group 2006. VODAFONE, the Vodafone logos, Vodafone live!, VodafoneAt Home, Vodafone Office and Vodafone Mobile Connect are trade marks of theVodafone Group. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be thetrade marks of their respective owners. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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