Vodafone: Pure Speculation That Colao Will Replace Sarin

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Vodafone Group said Sunday that it is pure speculation that the mobile phone group's new Deputy Chief Executive Vittorio Colao will replace beleaguered CEO Arun Sarin in less than a year, a company spokesman said.

The spokesman was responding to a story in the Mail on Sunday newspaper, which said that Colao has been promised the top job by Chairman John Bond on condition he delivers a strong improvement in the group's European operations.

Company Web site: http://www.vodafone.com

-By Lilly Vitorovich, Dow Jones Newswires; +44 (0)20 78 42 9290; lilly.vitorovich@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires"

Posted to the site on 10th September 2006