- Pilar López will become Vodafone’s CFO in December 2025, following a handover from October; she brings telecom and tech experience from Telefónica and Microsoft.
- Her appointment signals Vodafone’s focus on financial rigour and digital transformation, though her success will hinge on execution and strategic alignment.
What happened: Vodafone announces Microsoft’s Pilar López as incoming CFO
Vodafone Group has appointed Pilar López as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective 1 December 2025. She will succeed Luka Mucic, with a handover starting 1 October as CFO-designate. López brings substantial sector experience, having held senior financial leadership roles at Telefónica for 16 years and at Microsoft—where she was COO for Western Europe and led the London Stock Exchange Group partnership.
Her base salary will be £725,000, supplemented by performance-related bonuses, long-term incentives and additional benefits like a car allowance and pension contributions. Vodafone CEO Margherita Della Valle described López’s strategic and sectoral insight as a key asset during a transformative period for the company.
Also read: Vodafone CFO Luka Mucic to leave for Vonovia CEO role
Also read: Vodafone and Airbus team up for secure European communications
Why it’s important
López’s diverse background across telecommunications and technology sectors positions her to support Vodafone’s ambitions in digital transformation and financial optimisation. Her experience brings knowledge of both legacy telecoms and cloud-enabled growth, which could be instrumental in areas such as operational simplification, capital efficiency, and expansion in fintech services—particularly in Africa.
That said, the ultimate impact depends on how effectively she can align IT-driven strategies with the company’s free cash flow objectives and market pressures. Vodafone’s next challenge will be ensuring her transition translates into measurable improvements in performance and shareholder value.
