Vodafone appoints European chief

Vodafone has appointed TDF Group chairman and chief Michel Combes as its chief executive of the European region, with additional responsibility for global marketing. The move comes as the company announces an organisational restructure.

Vodafone has appointed TDF Group chairman and chief Michel Combes (pictured) as its chief executive of the European region, with additional responsibility for global marketing. The move comes as the company announces an organisational restructure.

Combes will begin in his new role on October 1 and will be responsible for all current European markets. He will also head Vodafone’s global marketing, technology and Vodafone Business Services.

He joins from TDF Group, a French operator of terrestrial networks and shared facilities across Europe. He previously spent several years in senior management positions at France Telecom.

As part of wider changes at Vodafone, there will be a restructure of its geographical organisation, effective January next year.

The company’s EMAPA region, which covers Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia will be divided into two regions – Central Europe/Africa and Asia-Pacific.

Paul Donavan, the chief executive of the EMAPA region, will leave Vodafone at the end of this year. Meanwhile, Terry Kramer, the group HR director is being moved to the role of group strategy and business improvement director, with immediate effect.