By Simon Zekaria
LONDON-- Vodafone Group PLC's long-standing Chief Technology
Officer Steve Pusey plans to retire in the summer, heralding the
departure of one of the architects of the British telecom
operator's multibillion-dollar plan to expand its global
network.
Mr. Pusey will leave the world's second-biggest wireless
operator after China Mobile Ltd. on July 31 after eight years at
the group, the company said on Thursday.
Vodafone has poached Johan Wibergh, executive vice president in
charge of networks at Swedish telecom-equipment maker Ericsson, to
replace him. Mr. Wibergh, who joined Ericsson in 1996, is scheduled
to join Vodafone in May to enable a period of transition, Vodafone
said.
"I will leave the Vodafone technology community in excellent
hands," said Mr. Pusey said in a statement. Mr. Pusey wasn't
immediately available for further comment.
Mr. Pusey joined Vodafone as CTO from Canadian
telecommunications company Nortel in 2006 and was appointed to the
board in June 2009. He spearheaded the international expansion of
Vodafone's third-generation wireless services, the launch of faster
fourth-generation networks in 15 countries and the development of
Vodafone's cybersecurity operations.
He also led the group's global network spending plan, which has
earmarked $11 billion to upgrade its network across the world by
March 2016. The investment is focused on third-generation and
fourth-generation network capacity as well as fiber-optic-cable
rollout and store upgrades. Total outlay on networks and services
will be more than $29 billion.
Vodafone is spending billions of dollars gathered from the
landmark $130 billion sale of its 45% stake in Verizon Wireless, a
U.S. mobile joint venture, to improve the network's quality and
speed. In Europe, it sees the upgrade central to a turnaround of
its business in the region.
Thursday, Vodafone Chief Executive Vittorio Colao said the plan
is "well on track and already delivering significant benefits" to
customers.
The operator has also focused on deal-making across Europe's
scattered telecom and media sectors as operators pursue fixed-line
assets and exclusive content to shore up stagnating wireless
businesses. It has spent $20 billion on cable operators in Germany
and Spain in recent times to bolster its position.
To further enhance its fixed networks, Vodafone has been rolling
out fiber-optic in Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
Write to Simon Zekaria at simon.zekaria@wsj.com
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