The “new Vodafone” is gearing up for a leadership shakeup as the British investment group Zegona formally takes the reins of Vodafone Spain. The company has secured government approval to acquire 100% of its Spanish operator for 5 billion euros, and will appoint Jose Miguel Garcia as the new chief executive officer. Garcia previously led Jazztel until its absorption by Orange and also steered Euskaltel before its acquisition by MásMóvil.
Vodafone Spain will confirm the incoming CEO on June 1, along with a restructuring of executive leadership, as communicated to staff in an internal memo. The company explained that, to address the company’s significant challenges and return to sustainable growth, the executive committee has been streamlined. The changes will take effect on June 1, the day Garcia is officially appointed as Vodafone Spain’s CEO by Zegona.
The “new Vodafone” also aims to halt the customer losses seen in recent years by bringing in a fresh member to the leadership team: Angel Álvarez, named Director of the Consumer Unit. Álvarez previously ran Telecom Italia’s Digi unit and played a major role in telecom low-cost growth. Digi, originally Romanian, has grown into a giant with more than seven million customers, shaking up Spain’s telecom market with aggressive pricing, simple tariffs, and an ever-expanding service offering, becoming the fourth largest player in the national sector.
The new CEO has also settled the appointment of José Ortiz Martínez as Director of the Legal, Regulation and Corporate Security area. Ortiz Martínez is a lawyer with more than 30 years of experience in telecommunications, having held similar roles at Jazztel and Euskaltel. He will replace Elena Otero, who will support Zegona in Government and External Affairs. Additionally, Berta Álvarez Stuber will assume the role of HR Director after serving as the top HR and Organizational executive at Euskaltel and, more recently, at MásMóvil.
Under the new leadership structure, several key executives will remain in place and report to the new chief executive. Julia Velasco, currently Vodafone Spain’s Director of Network, will assume responsibility for Systems, Customer Operations, and Cybersecurity. Eloy Rodrigo will continue to lead the Finance Directorate, and Jesús Suso will manage the Enterprise Unit, ensuring continuity across core business areas.