Human Resources
Vodafone has had a history of experienced CEOs including Arun Sarin, who was skilled in achieving growth in developing markets. Also, Gary Laurence, head of Vodafone UK, appointed CEO in September 2008 was known for his ability to identify strategic options and the current CEO, Vittorio Colao who succeeded Arun in 2008 is known for strong reputation as cost cutter.
Vodafone's partnership with BT hosting BT's MVNO, allowed it to provide services to corporations. It started a joint venture with O2, which enabled it to extend its fixed-line network.
Training and development programmes help employees to develop their skills and experience and to reach their full potential, benefiting themselves and the Company.

Research and development (“R&D”)
The Group R&D function comprises an international team for applied research in mobile and internet communications and their related applications. Group R&D teams are located in Newbury, Maastricht, Munich, California and Madrid, and there is an affiliated team in Paris belonging to Vodafone’s associated undertaking in France, SFR. A small team was set up at the end of 2007 in the Vodafone Beijing office to work in close collaboration with China Mobile and a number of Chinese vendors. The emphasis of the Group R&D work programme is on providing technology analysis and a vision that contributes directly
to business decisions, enabling new applications of mobile communications, technology for new services and research 
for improving operational efficiency and quality of the Group’s networks. 

The work of Group R&D is delivered through a portfolio of programmes and cross industry activities with a substantial number of trials, demonstrations and prototypes. All work is set in a business and social context, and must lead to intellectual property rights or to Vodafone having significant influence on the technology it will deploy in the future. Group R&D also provides leadership for funding research into health and safety aspects of mobile communications and technical leadership for the Group’s spectrum strategy.

Supply chain management
Handsets network equipment, marketing and IT services account for the majority of Vodafone’s purchases, with the bulk of these purchases from global suppliers. The Group’s Supply Chain Management (“SCM”) team is responsible for managing the Group’s relationships with all suppliers, except for handsets.
The transformation of the supply chain organization into a single community under one leadership and the application of global material category strategies, in conjunction with local market expertise, have enabled savings across all operating companies. This is supported by a uniform savings methodology applied across all operating companies and the alignment of objectives across all material categories, operations and enabling functions. Innovative sourcing methods such as auctions and seamless business-to-business applications form a vital part in utilizing the Group’s scale.

Information Technology

The strategy is focused upon delivering a clearly differentiated, market-leading network position. Vodafone will do this through:
1. a the provision of the best mobile voice and data service, by the rapid and widespread deployment of 3G and 4G, and upgrades to network backhaul infrastructure; and
2. a being competitive in the fixed market and delivering leading unified communication solutions, by acquiring access
to an effective mix of high speed next generation fixed network cable and fibre infrastructure. Sales marketing and distribution
The distribution footprint in emerging markets consists of a range
of branded stores, franchised shops and small independent retail recharging units. It has modernized over 250 stores in these markets and we are targeting to reach over 2,300 by 2016. Its branded stores are very attractive to customers wanting higher end smartphones
or monthly contract plans. In Egypt 95% of new contract customers come to us through branded stores. In India it has the largest footprint of 1.7 million points of sale sites for top-ups, significantly more than its nearest competitor, and to cater for its female customers
we are opening a number of new “Angel” stores, which are run and managed exclusively by women.