Nick Read
Nick Read in 2020
Born
Nicholas Jonathan Read
NationalityBritish
EducationManchester Metropolitan University
OccupationBusinessman
TitleCEO, Vodafone
TermOctober 2018 - December 2022
PredecessorVittorio Colao
SuccessorMargherita Della Valle

Nicholas Jonathan Read (born 1964) is a British businessman and was the CEO of Vodafone Group plc from October 2018 to December 2022.

Read currently works as a senior advisor for Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and is chairman for EXA Infrastructure. He is also a non-executive director for Booking.com.

Education

Read attended Manchester Metropolitan University,[1] where he earned a BA (Hons) degree in Accounting and Finance in 1986.[2] He is a Fellow Chartered Management Accountant and also a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA).[2]

In 2022, Read was the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree from Manchester Metropolitan University.[3]

Career

Read worked for Federal Express Corporation, with roles located in the UK, Belgium and the United States. He also worked at United Business Media Plc, performing divisional CFO roles in both companies.[1][4]

While Read was serving as CFO for Vizzavi in 2001, Vodafone bought out its joint venture partner, Vivendi Universal and subsequently merged Vizzavi's operations with Vodafone.[5] Read became the CFO for Vodafone's UK business in 2002 and then CCO in 2003.[6] On 1 May 2006, he became the CEO of Vodafone UK.[6]

In 2008, Read became the Group's Chief Executive for the Africa, Middle East and Asia region. As part of the role he became a board member of numerous Vodafone subsidiaries, joint ventures and minority positions. They included China Mobile, Vodacom Group, Safaricom plc, Vodafone Egypt, Vodafone Qatar, Indus Towers, Vodafone India, Vodafone Hutchinson Australia, and VodafoneZiggo.[7]

In 2014, Read became the CFO of Vodafone Group plc and joined the company's main board. He was appointed Group CEO four years later in October 2018. In his role as CEO, he became a United Nations Broadband Commissioner and HeForShe alliance champion.[8][9] Read also joined the board of Booking Holdings Inc as a non-executive director in 2018 and member of the Audit Committee.[10] In December 2022, it was announced that Read would be stepping down as Group CEO of Vodafone. He remained as an advisor to Vodafone's board until 31 March 2023.[11] Read joined the Supervisory Board at Manchester Metropolitan University in April 2023.[12]

Since Vodafone, Read has focused on global digital infrastructure investments and in June 2023, was appointed Chairman of EXA Infrastructure.[13] EXA has a ultra high speed fibre network spanning EMEA, transatlantic & east coast of the US, providing connectivity to hyperscalers, telecom operators, governments & large enterprises.[14] In September 2023, Read was appointed as a Senior Advisor to Global Infrastructure Partners, a leading infrastructure fund with $100 billion under management.[15] He continues to serve as non-executive director for Booking.com.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Bloomberg profile: Nicholas Jonathan Read". Bloomberg LP. Retrieved 21 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Vodafone Group PLC Board Announces Group Chief Executive Succession". Vodafone. 15 May 2018.
  3. ^ "University awards honorary degrees to inspirational business leaders". Manchester Metropolitan University. 28 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Nick Read to succeed Vittorio Colao as Vodafone Group CEO". The Financial Express. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
  5. ^ Gibson, Owen (30 August 2002). "Vodafone pulls plug on Vizzavi brand". The Guardian.
  6. ^ a b Fildes, Nic (4 October 2013). "Business big shot: Nick Read of Vodafone". The Times.
  7. ^ "Nick Read to succeed Vittorio Colao as Vodafone Group CEO". Times of India. 15 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Vodafone boss Vittorio Colao to step down". BBC News. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  9. ^ Sandle, Paul; Holton, Kate (15 May 2018). "UPDATE 2-Vodafone's Vittorio Colao to step down in October, Nick Read to step up". CNBC.
  10. ^ "Nicholas J. Read - Director". Booking Holdings.
  11. ^ Williams, Holly (5 December 2022). "Vodafone boss Nick Read to step down at end of year". The Independent.
  12. ^ "Nick Read profile". Manchester Metropolitan University.
  13. ^ Ralph, Alex (23 June 2023). "Ex-Vodafone boss Nick Read picked up £4m before exit". The Times.
  14. ^ Baldock, Harry (21 June 2023). "Former Vodafone CEO Nick Read finds new home at EXA Infrastructure". Total Telecom.
  15. ^ Nair, Dinesh (8 February 2022). "GIP Targets $25 Billion for Record Infrastructure Fund". Bloomberg.
Business positions Preceded by Chief Financial Officer of Vodafone April 2014 – Succeeded byIncumbent Preceded byTim Miles Chief Executive of Vodafone UK May 2006 – November 2008 Succeeded byGuy Laurence Preceded by Chief Operating Officer of Vodafone UK – 2006 Succeeded by Preceded by Chief Financial Officer of Vodafone UK 2001 – Succeeded by
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