Vodafone Group Plc ("Vodafone") announces today that the Board has appointed Andrew (Andy) Halford as Financial Director Designate to succeed Ken Hydon when he retires following the Annual General Meeting on 26 July 2005.
Andy Halford (45) is presently Chief Financial Officer of Verizon Wireless, based in the US. Verizon Wireless is the largest US mobile company with over 40 million customers.
Andy joined Vodafone in 1999 as Financial Director, Vodafone UK. In 2001 he was given regional responsibility as Financial Director for the UK, Northern Europe, Middle East and Africa before moving to his current position with Verizon Wireless in 2002.
Prior to joining Vodafone, Andy spent seven years with East Midland Electricity Plc, latterly as Group Finance Director following a career at Price Waterhouse in the UK and South Africa. He has a BA in Industrial Economics and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Andy will join both the Board of Vodafone and the Group Executive Committee upon taking up his full time responsibilities in July 2005. Arun Sarin, Chief Executive, said: "I am delighted to announce that Andy Halford will succeed Ken Hydon, our longstanding Financial Director. Ken has been a key member of the Vodafone management team from the beginning and has helped create the company that Vodafone is today.
"Andy has considerable experience in both finance and mobile communications and is an outstanding executive for the role of Financial Director. As we drive forward with Vodafone's integration, Andy's experience and track record working with Verizon Wireless in this area will prove invaluable. I very much look forward to working with him as part of the senior management team at Vodafone."
For further information:
Vodafone Group
Investor Relations
Melissa Stimpson
Darren Jones
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Media Relations
Bobby Leach
Ben Padovan
Tel: +44 (0) 1635 673310
Tavistock Communications
Lulu Bridges
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150
