Margherita Della Valle, who had taken over the management of the Vodafone group ad interim after the departure of Nick Read, was newly appointed CEO worldwide. The board and I were impressed with his pace and of his determination to initiate the necessary transformation of Vodafone – commented the President Jean-Franois van Boxmeer -. Margherita has my and the Board’s full support for her plans to offer Vodafone a better customer experience, become a simpler company and accelerate growth.

The nomination

In December 2022, the Company announced the departure of Nick Read as Group Chief Executive Officer and Margherita Della Valle was appointed to fill the role on an interim basis while maintaining her previous role as Chief Financial Officer pending a new one by the Board gives instruction group leader exeCute. After almost five months, the company confirmed its decision. For Vodafone to fulfill its potential, it needs to change, Della Valle said. The group has one unique position in Europe and Africa with strong relationships with customers, networks and people. We know we can do better. My goal will be to improve service to our customers, simplify and grow our business. Even after the appointment, Margherita Della Valle will continue as Chief Financial Officer of the Group pending an external search for a new Chief Financial Officer.

The career

Margherita Della Valle was born in Rome in 1965 and graduated in 1988 with a Des (Economics and Social Sciences) from Bocconi University. By 2018 she was deputy chief financial officer at Group level and CFO for Vodafone Italia from 2004 to 2007. Della Valle joined Omnitel Pronto Italia in various roles in 1994 before being acquired by Vodafone in 2000. In July 2020, Della Valle made the move been nominated board member of the Reckitt Benckiser Group plc. Throughout her long career, Della Valle – who was recently named Milan’s Bocconi University Alumna of the Year 2022 – has worked with both Aldo Bisio and Vittorio Colao, the telecoms giant’s former number one and most recently minister in the Draghi government.