Vodafone announces Leanne Wood to step down as Chief HR Officer in January 2026 while continuing non-executive roles

Vodafone announces Leanne Wood to step down as Chief HR Officer in January 2026 while continuing non-executive roles

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone has announced that Leanne Wood will step down as Chief Human Resources Officer and as a member of its Group Executive Committee on 1 January 2026. Wood, who has served as CHRO since 2019, will continue her involvement with Vodafone through non-executive roles at Vodacom Group Limited and Vantage Towers AG. CEO Margherita Della Valle praised Wood’s contribution in transforming the organisation, enhancing customer experience, and driving sustainable growth. Wood said she was proud of her time leading HR at Vodafone and considered the company well-positioned for multi-year growth. Vodafone plans to announce her successor before the end of September 2025.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 11-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Vodafone Group Plc today announced that Leanne Wood will step down as Chief Human Resources Officer and as a member of the Vodafone Group Executive Committee with effect from 1 January 2026. While concluding her executive career, Wood will continue to represent Vodafone as a non-executive director on the Board of Vodacom Group Limited and as a member of the Vantage Towers AG Shareholders’ Committee, as she transitions toward a portfolio career.

Margherita Della Valle, Vodafone Group CEO, expressed her gratitude for Wood’s service, stating:
“Leanne has made an outstanding contribution to Vodafone, to our colleagues, and to our customers. She has played a pivotal role in reshaping our organisation, improving customer experience, and driving sustainable growth. I am delighted that she will continue to support Vodacom and Vantage Towers in non-executive roles, and I wish her every success in the next phase of her career.”

Wood has held the role of Chief HR Officer since 2019, during which time she oversaw significant cultural and organisational transformation. Reflecting on her tenure, she said:
“It has been a privilege to serve as Vodafone’s Chief HR Officer. Together with our teams, we have transformed the company, strengthened its culture, and positioned Vodafone for long-term growth. With the Group now reshaped and ready for the future, the time feels right to conclude my executive journey. I look forward to continuing to contribute in my non-executive roles while supporting Margherita and the leadership team.”

Vodafone confirmed that the appointment of Wood’s successor will be announced before the end of September 2025.

About Vodafone

Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company.

We serve over 355 million mobile and broadband customers, operating networks in 15 countries with investments in a further five and partners in over 40 more. Our undersea cables transport around a sixth of the world’s internet traffic, and we are developing a new direct-to-mobile satellite communications service to connect areas without coverage. Vodafone runs one of the world’s largest IoT platforms, with over 215 million IoT connections, and we provide financial services to around 92 million customers across seven African countries – enabling more transactions than any other provider.

From the seabed to the stars, Vodafone’s mission is to keep everyone connected.

For more information, please visit www.vodafone.com, follow us on X at @VodafoneGroup or connect with us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/vodafone.

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SOURCE: Vodafone Group