Vodafone splits European segment into two

UK-based telecoms giant Vodafone Group has announced the division of its European unit into two new operating regions, ‘Northern & Central Europe’ and ‘Southern Europe.’ Philipp Humm, who joins from Deutsche Telekom’s T-Mobile USA, has been appointed as chief executive of Northern & Central Europe, which comprises Vodafone’s operations in Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ireland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania, effective 1 October 2012. The Southern Europe division will from 1 August 2012 be headed by Paolo Bertoluzzo, who will also continue in his role as chief executive of Vodafone Italy. It houses the company’s units in some of Europe’s most economically challenging countries, including Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Albania and Malta. Vodafone Group chief executive Vittorio Colao said: ‘Our new regional structure will underpin our strategy focused on meeting our customers’ long-term needs, and Paolo and Philipp will be strong additions to the Vodafone Group executive committee.’