Marten Pieters to step down as MD and CEO of Vodafone India w.e.f April 1, 2015
Vodafone India has announced that Marten Pieters will be stepping down as the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone India with effect from April 1, 2015 and will be succeeded by the Vodafone India’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Sunil Sood. However, after April 2015, Pieters will continue to remain on the Board of Vodafone India in a non-executive capacity.
Marten Pieters was appointed as Vodafone India MD and CEO in February 2009. Under his leadership, Vodafone India doubled revenues, added more than 100 million customers, increased its market share and launched data services. As the longest-serving CEO of an Indian telecommunications company, he led Vodafone India's participation in all spectrum auctions since 2009. Also, Pieters was appointed as the Chairman of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) in 2014.
Under his present role as COO, Sood is responsible for day-to-day operations and profit and loss management together with new business development initiatives including the launch and expansion of mobile commerce activities. Sood joined Vodafone India's predecessor business, Hutch, in 2000 and has held roles leading the company's operations in Gujarat, Kolkata and Chennai. He had previously worked for Pepsi Co in a range of Indian and international leadership roles. Sood graduated with a Bachelor in Technology from IIT, Delhi and PGDM from IIM, Kolkata and is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program.
The Chairman of the Board of Vodafone India, Analjit Singh, said, "Marten's term as CEO has been marked by outstanding business performance and exemplary leadership in a highly complex sector and operating environment. He is to be commended for his many achievements and hands on to his highly experienced and respected successor the stewardship of a substantial enterprise serving the needs of 174 million customers. Sunil has an extensive operating experience and knows Vodafone India from within. He is therefore a great choice to grow and expand the business and I look forward to a successful transition."
Vodafone Group CEO for the Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific region, Serpil Timuray, said, "Marten has successfully led Vodafone India through a period of rapid evolution, establishing the business at the forefront of Vodafone Group's international portfolio while building strong organisational capabilities for the future. He has made an immense contribution to Vodafone over the last six years. The business will remain in good hands with Sunil who has also been integral to the growth of the company and the development of its capabilities, helping to drive consistent results through both good and challenging years."
Vodafone Group CEO Vittorio Colao said, "Marten has been a fantastic leader in India and a wise and trusted contributor across the Group as a whole. He will stand down from his role as CEO with warm thanks from everyone in Vodafone. I look forward to working with Sunil to build on the successes of a business widely admired in India and internationally."
Vodafone India’s MD and CEO Marten Pieters said, "It has been a pleasure and a privilege to lead Vodafone India and I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their passion and commitment in support of our goals over the last six years. I am delighted to hand over to Sunil; we have worked closely together throughout my time with Vodafone and I could not wish for a better successor."
Meanwhile, Sunil Sood's successor as COO will be announced in due course.
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Most Shared
- Related Articles
- Change Management: Key movements in 2010
- Rajeev Agrawal is BSNL's new CGM, Andhr...
- airtel appoints Vikas Singh as CEO of it...
- Uninor’s Rohit Chandra resigns
- A.K. Garg joins BSNL as Director (HR)
- Airtel Uganda appoints Somasekhar Vellap...
- Ericsson appoints Bina Chaurasia as seni...
- Ericsson appoints new India region head
- Sanjeev Aga, MD, Idea Cellular to step d...
- Neotel appoints Sunil Joshi as MD & CEO
No Most Rated articles exists!!