Board & Structural Changes

Vodafone Group Plc 13 October 2004 13 October 2004 BOARD CHANGES AND NEW ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE AT VODAFONE Vodafone Group Plc ('Vodafone') announces Board changes and a new organisational structure (see note 1) which will enable continued improvement in the delivery of the Group's strategic goals. This structure will become effective as from 1 January 2005. The new organisation is designed to: • Focus more attention on customers in Vodafone's local markets; • Enhance Vodafone's ability to deliver seamless services to corporations; • Facilitate co-ordinated delivery of 3G across all markets; • Function as an integrated company, delivering on One Vodafone; and • Simplify decision-making, accountabilities and governance structures to speed up execution Vodafone will simplify its existing regional structure with major countries and business areas reporting into the Chief Executive. All first line management functions in the Operating Companies will have a dual reporting line to the respective functions at Group level. Arun Sarin, Chief Executive said: 'We are creating an organisation that is better positioned to respond to the high expectations of our customers. Faster execution will enable us to extend our lead within the mobile industry and deliver the benefits to our customers, our employees and our shareholders.' MAIN BOARD APPOINTMENTS Sir Julian Horn-Smith will be appointed Deputy Chief Executive with effect from 1 January 2005. Vodafone separately announces that Andy Halford has been appointed Financial Director Designate. Andy will succeed Ken Hydon when he retires on 26 July 2005. OPERATING COMPANY STRUCTURE Vodafone's operating company structure will be streamlined to ensure effective and fast decision-making, enabling improved time to market across a number of business initiatives. Consequently, the following operating companies and business areas will report directly into the Chief Executive: • European Affiliates (Belgium, France, Poland, Romania and Switzerland) and Non-European Affiliates (China, Fiji, Kenya, South Africa and United States), led by Sir Julian Horn-Smith; • Germany, led by Jurgen von Kuczkowski; • Italy, led by Pietro Guindani; • United Kingdom, led by Bill Morrow; • Other EMEA Subsidiaries (Albania, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden), led by Paul Donovan; • Asia Pacific (Australia, Japan and New Zealand), led by Brian Clark who will also be appointed Group Human Resources Director Designate GROUP FUNCTIONS Vodafone's Group functions will be strengthened to support the delivery of seamless global propositions and Vodafone's continued integration. The following functions will also report directly into the Chief Executive: • Marketing, led by Peter Bamford, the Chief Marketing Officer. This function will be reinforced by a newly created Multi National Corporates unit which will assume full accountability for serving Vodafone's global corporate customers. Group Marketing will also manage the global handset portfolio and procurement; • Technology, led by Thomas Geitner, the Chief Technology Officer. In addition to standardised network design and global supply chain management, this function will introduce the concept of shared service operation for IT and service delivery; • Business Development, a new function led by Sir Julian Horn-Smith. Sir Julian will be responsible for driving Vodafone's product and services portfolio into Vodafone's affiliates and the Partner Networks. In addition, this function will assume responsibility for expanding and consolidating Vodafone's footprint through the Partner Network programme and any Corporate Finance activities NEW GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE Vodafone also announces changes to its governance process. The Group will have two management committees which will oversee the execution of the Main Board's strategy and policy. • The Executive Committee (see note 2) Chaired by Arun Sarin, this committee will focus on the Group's strategy, financial structure and planning, succession planning, organisational development and Group-wide policies. • The Integration and Operations Committee (see note 3) Chaired by Arun Sarin, this committee will be responsible for setting operational plans, budgets and forecasts, product and service development, customer segmentation, managing delivery of multi-market propositions and managing shared resources. FINANCIAL REPORTING The Group's financial reporting for the year ending 31 March 2005 will reflect this new organisational structure while the Group's interim results, to be announced on 16 November 2004, will be reported under the current structure. The Group will provide proforma results for the new structure on 16 November.)(see note 4) - ends - For further information: Vodafone Group Investor Relations Media Relations Melissa Stimpson Bobby Leach Darren Jones Ben Padovan Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310 Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310 Tavistock Communications Lulu Bridges Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150 Notes to editors: 1. New organisational structure as of 1 January 2005 CEO Direct Reporting Lines --------------------------------------------------------------- By Country By Business Area --------------------------------------------------------------- Germany Marketing Italy Technology UK Strategy & Business Integration Asia Pacific Region Finance Other EMEA Subsidiaries Corporate Affairs Business Development Human Resources Legal 2. Representatives of the Executive Committee as of 1 January 2005: Arun Sarin, Chief Executive Sir Julian Horn-Smith, Deputy Chief Executive Ken Hydon, Financial Director* Peter Bamford, Chief Marketing Officer Thomas Geitner, Chief Technology Officer Jurgen von Kuczkowski, Chief Executive Germany Pietro Guindani, Chief Executive Italy Bill Morrow, Chief Executive United Kingdom Paul Donovan, Regional Chief Executive Brian Clark, Chief Executive Asia Pacific and Group Human Resources Director Designate Shiro Tsuda, Chief Executive Japan Alan Harper, Group Strategy and Business Integration Director Phil Williams, Group Human Resources Director* Stephen Scott, Group General Counsel and Company Secretary Simon Lewis, Group Corporate Affairs Director * Due to retire July 2005 3. Representatives of the Integration and Operations Committee as of 1 January 2005: Same as Executive Committee with the addition of: Fritz Joussen, Chief Operating Officer Germany 4. Country Breakdown for Financial Reporting Purposes*: EMEA: Germany Italy Spain United Kingdom Other EMEA subsidiaries Albania* Egypt* Greece* Hungary* Ireland* Malta* Netherlands* Portugal* Sweden* EMEA Affiliates Belgium* France* Kenya* Poland* Romania* South Africa* Switzerland* Asia Pacific: Japan Other Asia Pacific Australia* China* Fiji* New Zealand* US Total Mobile Other Total Group * All countries will not be disclosed separately This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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