No Japan impact as CEO Sir Chris Gent leaves Vodafone - Upfront

Japan, Inc., Feb, 2003

Vodafone's chief executive, Chris Gent, announced in December that he is to resign from his position in July. His successor is the 48-year-old Arun Sarin.

CSFB telecoms analyst Mark Berman said in December that, given the fact that the triumvirate that runs Japan Telecom/J-Phone (Bill Morrow, John Durkin and Darryl Green) are all Americans and not apparently closely tied to Gent, "We see little near-term impact on the Japan operations from this leadership change at Vodafone."

Berman also stated that Gent was a "big-picture type of leader, and thus the aggressive move into Japan was largely his doing." He concludes that so long as Japan Telecom/J-Phone continue to execute on the turnaround in profitability, he sees no reason that the new president would try to interfere with Japan operations. He adds, "Japan Telecom is now Vodafone's golden goose."