Telefonica Deutschland names new CEO

Markus Haas

Telefonica Deutschland has named Telefonica veteran Markus Haas as its new CEO.

Haas, who has worked at Telefonica since 1998, will take up his new role on Jaunary 1, 2017, taking over from Telefonica Deutschland’s current CEO Thorsten Dirks.

Telefonica said that Dirks will continue to support the management team until the end of the first quarter 2017 to ensure a smooth transition.

Haas will lead Telefónica Deutschland in close cooperation with chief financial and strategy officer Rachel Empey.

Commenting on behalf of Telefonica Deutschland’s supervisory board, Eva Castillo Sanz said: “The internal succession is a clear signal of continuity for our shareholders, employees and business partners in the execution of the integration and transformation processes.

“The supervisory board is looking forward to continuing our further successful collaboration with Markus Haas and Rachel Empey.”

Haas has been managing director of Telefonica Deutschland since 2009 and became a member of the management board in 2012.

Rachel Empey has worked in different leading management positions for the Telefónica Group since 2004 and has been a member of the management board of Telefónica Deutschland since 2012.