Vodafone makes further management changes

Vodafone UK chief executive Nick Read (pictured) is to leave his role to take charge of the telecom business in the Asia Pacific and Middle East region. Guy Laurence, currently chief executive of Vodafone Netherlands, will replace him.

The changes follow Vodafone’s recent announcement that the Europe, Middle East and Asia Pacific regions would be reorganised to provide greater focus on the growing markets.

Read will now become chief executive of the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions, which will cover Vodafone’s interests in Australia, China, Egypt, Fiji, India, New Zealand and Qatar.

He will be joined by Morten Lundal, who is moving from chief executive of Vodafone Middle East & Africa, to chief executive of Central Europe and Africa. Lundal will look after Vodafone’s interests in the Czech Republic, Ghana, Hungary, Kenya, Poland, Romania, Turkey and Vodacom Group in South Africa.

Read and Lundal will report to Vittorio Colao, chief executive of the Vodafone Group.

Laurence will report to Michel Combes, chief executive of Europe. The changes will take effect from January 1.

Earlier this month, Vodafone appointed TDF Group chairman and chief Combes to the role, with additional responsibility for global marketing.