Vodafone Ireland chief Anne O’Leary to join Meta

Vodafone chief executive Anne O’Leary is leaving the mobile network after 14 years to join Facebook parent company, Meta.

Ms O’Leary is stepping down in September to become vice-president of Meta’s mid-market business division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

She will oversee a large sales team that supports small and medium businesses across Europe, Middle East, and Africa, helping businesses to accelerate their digital transformation.

“I’m thrilled to welcome a leader of Anne’s calibre and experience to the Meta team. She joins us at an exciting time as we continue to expand our business tools across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and as we create new opportunities for businesses in VR [virtual reality] and the metaverse,” said Angie Gifford, Meta’s vice-president of global business for EMEA.

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Ms O’Leary has spent nine years overseeing Vodafone’s Irish business, including the roll-out of 4G and 5G networks, and its partnership with Siro.

“After 14 wonderful years at Vodafone, I am hugely excited to start a new chapter working with the Meta team. In an ever more competitive digital economy, I look forward to connecting with, and supporting, small and medium businesses across Europe, Middle East and Africa to evolve with digital change, embrace transformation and the tools that will help them to grow and scale their businesses across the world.”

Prior to taking up the chief executive role in 2013, Ms O’Leary spent five years as head of Vodafone’s enterprise business. She has also overseen the introduction of a number of family-friendly work policies, including extended leave for those undergoing fertility treatment or experiencing pregnancy loss and their partners, support for employees through menopause and for those who experienced domestic violence.

“Anne has been a consistent and passionate advocate for the difference Vodafone can make to the people of Ireland, championing connectivity and leading through continued investment in Ireland’s telecommunications infrastructure. She has placed a huge focus on the digital society agenda in Ireland and has always firmly believed that equality of access to connectivity will change how everyone in Ireland lives and works, particularly those in rural Ireland,” Vodafone Ireland said in a statement. “Over the last nine years as CEO, Anne has been an extraordinary leader, adviser and guide to those around her. She will be missed by her friends and colleagues at Vodafone Ireland who wish her the very best in this new chapter.”