Media report: Executive restructuring likely at Telefónica
(Bild: Jose Miguel Sanchez/Shutterstock.com)
A total of two departments were reviewed in October; according to insiders, one is now facing a reorganization.
The Germany CEO of Telefónica Deutschland, Santiago Argelich Hesse, could reorganize the executive departments in the foreseeable future. According to a media report, the private customer division under Andreas Laukenmann is affected. In the future, Hesse himself and Technology Executive Malik Rao will partially take care of it.
The Handelsblatt reports [1], citing two people familiar with the matter, that it concerns the areas of Marketing, Customer Operations, and Sales. A spokesperson for Telefónica declined to comment to the paper.
Possible restructuring was foreseeable
It first became known in October that Laukenmann's position could be shaky. When Telefónica Deutschland prematurely terminated the contract with its then CEO Markus Haas [2], the head of private customers and Alfons Lösing, responsible for partnerships, for example with 1&1, also came under scrutiny.
The reason for Haas's dismissal is said to have been the loss of the major customer 1&1 to competitor Vodafone. Lösing is currently still an executive board member, but it is already certain: His successor is to be Jörg Kablitz, who is to move from Paypal to Telefónica Deutschland.
Larger strategic shift in Spain
These are the effects of a larger change in direction coming from Telefónica's headquarters in Spain. After the group replaced its long-time CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete with Marc Murtra [3] at the beginning of January 2025, the position of the German branch within the group also changed. Under Álvarez-Pallete, it was always considered a reliable profit generator. Murtra, on the other hand, intends to present his new strategy for the entire group soon – and Haas plays no role in it anymore.
If a large part of Laukenmann's division also goes to Rao in part, it would massively expand his influence in the group again. Rao started as Technology Executive at Telefónica Deutschland in 2019. In November 2024, he additionally took over the business customer division. Now, a part of the private customer business could be added – and the management of the German business as a whole could be significantly streamlined.
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This article was originally published in German [9]. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
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[1] https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/it-internet/mobilfunk-bei-telefonica-deutschland-zeichnet-sich-ein-vorstandsumbau-ab-01/100211978.html
[2] https://www.heise.de/news/Markus-Haas-muss-gehen-Telefonica-Deutschland-sucht-neuen-CEO-10733645.html?from-en=1
[3] https://www.heise.de/news/Telefonica-Konzern-tauscht-Vorstandschef-aus-10248033.html?from-en=1
[4] https://www.heise.de/newsletter/anmeldung.html?id=ki-update&wt_mc=intern.red.ho.ho_nl_ki.ho.markenbanner.markenbanner
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[9] https://www.heise.de/news/Medienbericht-Vorstandsumbau-bei-Telefonica-wahrscheinlich-11228553.html
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