Telefónica people moves: Group makes a pay-TV board upgrade

Group

• Telefónica Audiovisual Digital, the Group’s media solutions arm which manages its Movistar Plus+ pay-TV service, has expanded its Board of Directors with three new appointments: Iván Bohórquez will now act as Director on the Movistar Plus+ council, while continuing his work as Vice-President at Smartener, a renewable energy solutions provider that he founded in 2013; Rosauro Varo is now VP and Director of Movistar Plus+, switching from his VP spot at Spanish media conglomerate Prisa; and Verónica Pascual will also serve as Director. She currently works within the ASTI Mobile Robotics Group. Through the appointments, Telefónica is aiming to bring in “broad vision and knowledge” of the pay-TV sector to better inform its decision making.

• Fernando Dotú was appointed Director of Operations at Zeleris, Telefónica’s logistics subsidiary. He departs from his last position as Executive Director of Operations at transport and distribution business Boyacá. Zeleris noted his specialisation in “managing strategic innovation and digital transformation projects, M&A, and operational and financial management of the business”.
• Oriol Lloret was named Director of Entertainment, Innovation, and the Living Apps portfolio at Telefónica, switching from a double role as Global Head of Business-to-Consumer Innovation and Director of Telefónica’s Innovation Lab in Barcelona.
• Pedro Simarro is now Head of Engineering at Telefónica Ingeniería de Seguridad, the Group’s security technology arm. Prior to the move, he was Product Lab Manager.
• Salvador Felip Represa became Head of Systems Security & Public Services at Telefónica, having previously been responsible for network security architecture projects.
• Fernando Ignacio Rey changed gears at Telefónica, now serving as Head of Implementation and Alliance Products. He was previously Head of Engineering & Deployment at the Project Management Office.

Infra-Tech

• Chris Brookes stepped down as CCO and Head of Shared Services at Telefónica Tech UK&I, now taking up a role as VP of Business Operations at central parent Telefónica Tech. Brooke’s replacement at the UK&I branch has not yet been announced.

• Steven Brown was named VP of Enterprise Applications at Telefónica Tech, switching from a role as Financial Services Business Unit Director at Incremental Group, a technology consultancy that was acquired by Telefónica Tech in March 2022.
• Telefónica Tech appointed two new leaders for its cloud operations. Firstly, Tomas Calvo Gomez was appointed Head of Cloud Platforms, moving from his last position as Head of Order Management. Secondly, Fernando Planas is now Head of Cybersecurity & Cloud Operations in Peru, having previously been Head of Cloud Business Planning & Transformation. He has seemingly replaced Antuanet Rivas Plata, who has become Head of Products & Services for the Hispanoamérica region.
• Matt Kenny switched to become Head of Public Sector Sales at Telefónica Tech, having previously served as Head of Enterprise Sales.
• Ester Tejedor became Director of Cybersecurity Operations at Telefónica Tech, switching from her last role as Head of Managed Services & Cybersecurity Integration, as reported by Spanish news outlet El Economista.

Core Markets

• Brazil: Fabio Mori widened his remit, becoming Digital Sales Director for Telefónica|Vivo’s Business-to-Business and B2C sales channels. His last title was Digital Channels Director for B2C.
• Vivo named two new leaders for its corporate venture capital fund Vivo Ventures. Firstly, Wana Schulze joined as Head of Investments, having previously worked in investing at venture capital firm HiPartners Capital & Work. Secondly, Ivan Yoon was appointed Head of Corporate Venture Capital, shifting from a role in the same sector at Brazilian firm Banco Votorantim.

• Germany: Jean-Philippe Lukate was promoted to become Head of Communications Strategy & Management at Telefónica Deutschland, changing from his previous spot as Business Manager, reporting directly to Chief Financial Officer Markus Rolle.
• UK: Colin Brown was named Director of Planning at Virgin Media O2, having last served as Build Director at Virgin Media prior to its 2021 merger with Telefónica UK (Telefónicawatch, #143 and passim).
• Lauren Dean was appointed Head of Acquisition Marketing for Mobile & Fixed-Mobile Convergence at VM O2, shifting from her last position as Marketing Lead.
• Gareth Lewis is the new Head of Financial Planning & Analysis for Direct Business at VM O2, having served in a similar role for small- and medium-sized businesses since June 2021.
• VM O2 crowned two new leaders to handle its customer communications and services: Laxmi Patel is now Head of Customer Communications for Product Operations at VM O2, departing as Senior Team Lead in Global Customer Relationship Management at food delivery service provider Just Eat; and Axel Wehrle took up a spot as Director of Customer Services at VM O2, having departed as COO of German telecoms operator 1&1 Versatel, where he was since replaced by Ahmet Yayan.
• Nick Piper was named Head of Category Management at VM O2, last serving as Senior Account Manager, in which he managed the migration of Virgin Mobile customers between radio network providers.
• Shruti Ahuja-Ramamurthy has stepped up as Interim Director of Advanced Analytics & Data Science at VM O2, also continuing in her role as Head of Commercial & Marketing Analytics. The move indicates that Alberto Rey Villaverde has changed positions, though his next move is currently unclear.
• Alan Stott became Director of Sales, Retentions & Retail at VM O2, having previously been Director of Consumer Integration.

Alumni

• Simon Cockcroft was named COO at communications and talent agency CGC, having left his previous role as Head of Distribution Sales & Business Franchise at VM O2.

• Jeff Dodds confirmed his new position as CEO at motorsport championship Formula E, effective 5 June, following his departure from VM O2 as COO, a position now taken by Ulrik Bengtsson. Dodds said the move was fuelled by his “passion for automotive, sport, and entertainment”. Alejandro Agag, founder and Chairman of Formula E, praised Dodds for his “dynamic leadership and impressive execution” throughout his career. He replaces Jamie Reigle in the role, whose next move is currently
• Alex Doorey became VP of Corporate Affairs & Marketing at energy provider OVO, having previously been VP of Corporate Affairs. Doorey took on several comms roles in her time at VM O2, with her last remit being Director of External Communications & Sustainability.
• Gustavo Fonseca became CEO at TV service provider Sky Brasil, having last served as Chief Marketing Officer at parent company Vrio. Prior to his work at Sky, Fonseca worked in several directorial positions at Vivo, having left as Marketing Director in 2015. His replacement at Vrio is currently unclear.
• Chris Gothard joined UK-based data centre provider Pulsant as Director of Infrastructure, having last served as Director of Platforms at cloud services provider UKCloud Health, a business that entered liquidation in October 2022. He previously worked at O2 UK as a Consultant for Data Centre Programme.
• Rames Sarwat was appointed CEO at AI customer service solutions developer BeHumans, having departed from his position at Telefónica Tech as Director of Product & Innovation.