Kiwi to head Vodafone UK

Tim Miles goes from running a $1 billion business in New Zealand to a $12 billion one in the UK. Picture / Martin Sykes

After running Vodafone in this country for three years, New Zealander Tim Miles has won the telco's top job in the United Kingdom - running a business with a turnover of $12 billion.

He said yesterday: "This is an amazing opportunity to join one of the founding Vodafone companies and I am very much looking forward to working with the UK team."

He will be replaced by Russell Stanners, Vodafone's director of business markets.

One analyst said Miles left "big boots to fill".

Miles said that during his stint Vodafone had gone from having about 40 per cent of mobile subscribers to well in excess of 50 per cent.

He said the new job was "a reflection of Vodafone New Zealand and what the whole business has achieved.

"It also underlines the fact we are working in a truly global business with a readily available pool of resource and talent."

Of the task ahead: "The market is a lot bigger in the UK so there's more players in that market ... but the issues to be dealt with are very much the same."

Miles will take up his new job on April 1 when UK chief executive Bill Morrow moves to Japan.

Vodafone UK has 15 million customers versus 1.8 million in New Zealand.

Miles said the appointment of Stanners - Vodafone director of New Zealand business markets - "made my decision a little bit easier, knowing the business will be left in good hands".

Stanners said he felt mixed emotions when he got the call at 9pm on Sunday offering him the top job.

"Feelings of excitment, pretty humbled to be offered it. When you get asked, you really feel it's a great privilege. Likewise, to be honest, a little bit scared," Stanners said.

Stanners intends building on the leadership of Miles in a fight against rivals that, he said, have "raised their game".

"The competitive environment and the increasingly demanding customer base are the two key challenges for the business," Stanners said.

Under Miles, Vodafone went from 1.08 million mobile subscribers in late 2001 to take the market lead from Telecom. Vodafone said it had a total customer base of 1.83 million at the end of last year versus Telecom's 1.46 million.

It reportedly made a $154 million annual profit in New Zealand in the September 2004 year - a 71 per cent improvement over the year before.

Out - Tim Miles Age: 47

Born: Manakau, Levin

Vodafone NZ director of business segments 2001.

Vodafone NZ managing director January 2002.

Previously: managing director of Unisys New Zealand.

In - Russell Stanners Age: 42

Born: Auckland

Vodafone NZ director of business markets since 2002.

Previously: managing director of Unisys NZ .

- additional reporting, NZPA