Telefónica Appoints Gilpérez to Vivo Board

Spanish telecoms giant Telefónica has appointed Luis Miguel Gilpérez López to the board of directors of Brazil's largest mobile phone company Vivo, newspapers reported.

Gilpérez has worked for Telefónica since 1981 and is currently VP of international business for Telefónica's mobile phone unit, which operates under the Movistar brand in Latin America.

Vivo's board of directors approved Gilpérez's appointment on March 22. He replaces Manoel Amorim, who was appointed as president of local retail chain Ponto Frio last week.

The appointment of Gilpérez appears to be a sign that Telefónica is seeking greater control of Vivo amidst a reported power struggle with its joint venture partner Portugal Telecom, newspaper Valor Econômico cited sources close to the Spanish operator as saying.

PT recently said it intends to maintain its interests in the Brazilian telecoms market through Vivo or through another operator. PT recently fought off a takeover bid from Portuguese group Sonae, a move which if it had been successful was expected to give Telefónica the edge in the power struggle for Vivo.

Telefónica has made no secret of the fact that it wants to secure control of Vivo."

Posted to the site on 27th March 2007