Vodafone Reshapes Board Structure with Strategic Appointments Ahead of 2025 AGM

Vodafone Reshapes Board Structure with Strategic Appointments Ahead of 2025 AGM

(IN BRIEF) Vodafone Group Plc has restructured its board following the 2025 AGM, appointing Anne-Françoise Nesmes as a Non-Executive Director who will join the Audit and Risk and ESG Committees. In addition, long-serving board member David Nish will retire after nine years of service. The reorganization includes the appointments of Simon Segars as Senior Independent Director (and as a member of the Nominations and Governance Committee), and Simon Dingemans as Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee, while adjustments have been made to the memberships of Michel Demaré, Christine Ramon, and Delphine Ernotte Cunci. The changes, which align with Vodafone’s long-term strategy and its commitment to effective governance, have been detailed by Chair Jean-François van Boxmeer, who praised the incoming director’s extensive experience. Anne-Françoise Nesmes, whose impressive background includes senior financial roles at major global companies and board positions at Compass Group and Sanofi, expressed her excitement to help drive Vodafone’s future innovations.

(PRESS RELEASE) BERKSHIRE, 2-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Vodafone Group Plc has announced significant changes to its board and committee structure, effective after the conclusion of the 2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM), subject to shareholder approval. Anne-Françoise Nesmes will be appointed as a Non-Executive Director, joining the Audit and Risk and ESG Committees. Concurrently, David Nish will retire from his role as a Board member, Senior Independent Director, and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at the end of the AGM following nine years of service. In light of these developments and a review of committee memberships, the company has also declared several further changes: Simon Segars will be appointed Senior Independent Director and join the Nominations and Governance Committee; Simon Dingemans will become Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee and join the Remuneration Committee; Michel Demaré will step down from the Nominations and Governance Committee; Christine Ramon will leave the ESG Committee and join the Remuneration Committee; and Delphine Ernotte Cunci will exit the Remuneration Committee to join the Nominations and Governance Committee.

Jean-François van Boxmeer, Vodafone’s Chair, expressed his enthusiasm for welcoming Anne-Françoise Nesmes to the Board, highlighting her extensive financial expertise, strategic focus, and experience in driving transformative agendas across international organizations. He also extended his gratitude to David Nish for his exceptional service and welcomed the new roles for Simon Segars, Simon Dingemans, and the other board members. Anne-Françoise Nesmes commented on her excitement about joining Vodafone, emphasizing her eagerness to contribute to the company’s innovative vision alongside her fellow directors and support CEO Margherita and the executive team.

Anne-Françoise brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles as CFO at Smith & Nephew plc, Merlin Entertainments, and Dechra Pharmaceuticals, as well as leading finance for the global vaccines unit at GlaxoSmithKline. She currently serves as Senior Independent Director at Compass Group Plc and as a non-executive director at Sanofi S.A.

About Anne-Françoise Nesmes

From 2020 to 2024, Anne-Françoise was CFO at Smith & Nephew plc, the multinational medical technology company, where she played a key role in developing the transformation programme following COVID-19. Anne-Françoise was responsible for finance, global shared services and information technology, driving cross-company business improvements and returns from innovation.

Prior to Smith & Nephew, Anne-Françoise held CFO roles at Merlin Entertainments and Dechra Pharmaceuticals where she developed the strategy, led several transformational acquisitions and streamlined financial processes to support business growth. Anne-Françoise also previously led the finance function for the global vaccines unit at GlaxoSmithKline where she evaluated M&A deals to expand in emerging markets, optimised cash flows and strengthened financial processes as part of a change programme.

Anne-Françoise currently serves as Senior Independent Director for Compass Group Plc, the largest contract food services company global, where she is the Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Remuneration Committee, Nomination Committee and Corporate Responsibility Committee. Anne is also a non-executive director of Sanofi S.A., a global healthcare company, which develops and delivers medicines and vaccines for millions of people around the world.

This announcement is made in compliance with the Company’s obligations under the UK Listing Rules, specifically Rule 6.4.6. There are no further matters to be disclosed in respect of Anne-Françoise’s appointment under UK Listing Rule 6.4.8.

About Vodafone Group

Vodafone is a leading European and African telecoms company. We provide mobile and fixed services to over 330 million customers in 15 countries, partner with mobile networks in 47 more and have one of the world’s largest IoT platforms. In Africa, our financial technology businesses serve almost 83 million customers across seven countries – managing more transactions than any other provider.

Our purpose is to connect for a better future by using technology to improve lives, businesses and help progress inclusive sustainable societies. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact to reach net zero emissions by 2040.

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