Telefónica names new COO in management shake-up

Ángel Vilá Boix

Telefónica executive chairman José María Álvarez-Pallete has instituted a major corporate management shake-up, centred on the appointment of Ángel Vilá Boix as the company’s new chief operating officer.

Vilá, who was previously chief strategy and finance officer at the Spanish and international telco, will also replace former Telefónica CEO Julio Linares on the Telefónica board as executive director.

Linares meanwhile will continue to play a role in the company, having been nominated to join the boards of Telefónica Brasil and Telefónica Deutschland. He will also continue to represent the company institutionally in a number of organisations.

Under the structure initiated by Telefónica in 2014, the company’s five operating businesses – Spain, Brazil, Spanish-speaking America, Germany and the UK – as well as the chief commercial digital officer and the chief global resources officer will report direct to Vilá.

Telefónica has also appointed Laura Abasolo as chief finance and control officer, reporting to Álvarez-Pallete. She was previously director of planning, accounting and control.

Current director of corporate development and Fonditel Enrique Lloves will become head of a new strategy and corporate development department, and will join the executive committee.

As part of the changes, Luis Blasco, chairman of video in Spain, is leaving the company. Global chief technology officer Enrique Blanco is meanwhile to take responsibility for the company’s systems area, previously led by Phil Jordan, who is also leaving the company.

Álvarez-Pallete’s role will be to “promote the company’s public positioning in the digital ecosystem as a leader in digital transformation in the countries in which it operates and contribute to define the new rules of digital economy”, according to Telefónica.