Vodafone Group has officially appointed Margherita Della Valle as CEO on a permanent basis. According to Board Chairman Jean-François van Boxmeer, Della Valle’s appointment followed a “thorough internal and external search”. Della Valle previously took over as interim CEO from Nick Read who retired unexpectedly in December 2021.
Della Valle has proved herself in the interim role, impressing the board with her “speed and determination”, said van Boxmeer. She will continue to serve as CFO until a successor is appointed to the role. Vodafone’s current priority is to undergo “necessary changes” and focus on improving its services, simplifying its business operations, and achieving further growth.
Della Valle’s predecessor, Nick Read, had been with Vodafone for 22 years before resigning. Vodafone has been under significant pressure due to its struggling business development in Germany and a decreasing share price. The German subsidiary accounts for 30% of the group’s sales, but has failed to meet investor expectations. The resignation of Germany boss Hannes Ametsreiter in the summer of 2022 also followed increasing demands from the group’s headquarters in London.
