Vodafone makes Margherita Della Valle its first permanent female chief exec after a five month search
Vodafone has confirmed its temporary chief executive Margherita Della Valle will fill the role permanently following a ‘rigorous internal and external search’.
Della Valle was the telecom giant’s chief financial officer but became boss on an interim basis after predecessor Nick Read was ousted last year.
The search for a replacement dragged on for nearly five months, sparking uncertainty about whether anyone was willing to take up the role.
Della Valle will now work as chief executive while also continuing her previous role of finance chief while the company hunts for a replacement.
Top job: Margherita Della Valle (pictured) was Vodafone’s chief financial officer but became boss on an interim basis after her predecessor Nick Read was ousted last year
It also means the FTSE 100 now has nine women serving permanently in chief executive roles.
‘I am honoured to have been appointed as group chief executive. To realise our potential Vodafone needs to change. We know we can do better.
‘My focus will be to improve the service for our customers, simplify our business and grow,’ she said.
Chairman Jean-Francois van Boxmeer added: ‘Margherita has a strong track record during her long career at Vodafone in marketing, operational, commercial and financial positions.
‘Over the last few months as interim group chief executive, the board and I have been impressed with her pace and decisiveness to begin the necessary transformation of Vodafone.’
Share rose 1.7 per cent, or 1.62p, to 92.7p.
