Business and Finance NEWS

Vodafone Group goes to Nigeria

By Amarendra Bhushan for CEOWORLD Magazine Updated:November 19, 2008 Become a writer!

Vodafone Group Plc, the world’s largest mobile-phone company, said it is considering expansion in Nigeria to tap growth in the African country. “We regularly review the assets, look at the return we can get and look at the alternatives that we have,” he said. The company will “keep an open mind” if the returns of assets are not as high as demanded or “if someone else has an interest in delivering more value out of the same assets,” he said.

Asked about purchases to expand Vodafone’s business in established markets, Colao said he is “supportive of potential opportunities” which help create value for shareholders and cut costs. He said last week that the company aims to expand its existing operations instead of expanding into new markets.

Vittorio Colao – Chief Executive

Board director since 9 October 2006 and appointed Chief Executive

Vittorio joined the Board in October 2006 as Chief Executive, Europe and Deputy Group Chief Executive of Vodafone Group Plc. He succeeded Arun Sarin as Chief Executive on 29 July 2008.

Between 2004 and 2006 he was Chief Executive Officer of RCS MediaGroup in Milan, a leading Media Group, publishing newspapers, magazines and books in Italy, Spain and France.

Prior to that, Vittorio held the post of Regional CEO, South Europe, Middle East and Africa, of Vodafone Group Plc, and he was an Executive Director on the main Board. Before the Vodafone acquisition, Vittorio was COO and CEO of Omnitel Pronto Italia, now Vodafone Italy.

Vittorio spent the early part of his career at McKinsey & Co, where he was a Partner in the Milan office, working on media, telecommunications and industrial goods.

Vittorio holds a Business Degree from Bocconi University and an MBA with Honours from the Harvard Business School.