One has to say, the rumoured, but so far denied, take over of Verizon is the best thing Arun Sarin could have come up with since he took over the Vodafone CEO-ship from Chris Gent.
If the rumours turn out to be true, Sarin will be making a move with real vision, and in line with Vodafone’s old strategy of establishing a globally branded network.
If, by doing so, he ignores the City types who are doing everything they can to persuade the board to break up the company and give them the proceeds, so much the better for the health of British business.
Now, instead of a pokey, piece-meal strategy of buying minority shares in network operators in third world countries, there’s a chance to get into the largest, richest, market on earth and to establish Vodafone as the dominant global network.
That was what Gent was trying to do with his purchases of Mannesman and J-Phone.
If Sarin can pull this off he’ll be a hero. Not to the City boys who just want a divi, but to everyone who wants to see British companies become world-beaters.
TOMORROW: TEN BEST SEMICONDUCTOR SALESMEN
Subscribe to this blog's feed