The Board of Directors of Telefónica has approved today, at the proposal of its Executive Chairman, José María Álvarez-Pallete, the following changes to the Executive Committee:
Enrique Blanco, Telefónica’s Global Chief Technology and Information Officer (GCTIO) will end his professional career at the Group on 31 March 2025 after a successful 40-year career at the company. Andrea Folgueiras, who was part of the succession plan, will be the new GCTIO as of that date, becoming a member of Telefónica’s Executive Committee.
Andrea Folgueiras is an Electronic Engineer, graduated from the University of Buenos Aires. She holds an MBA from ESEADE. She has more than 30 years of experience in the telecommunications sector with positions of responsibility in different countries. In 1991 she joined the Telefónica Group in Argentina, where she became Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 1997. In 2007 she took over as CTO of Telefónica Deutschland; in 2013 she was appointed CTO of Telefónica Brazil; and since 2016 she has been Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) for Hispam. She is a member of the Boards of Internet for All in Peru, and Onnet Fibra in Colombia and Chile.
Telefónica thanks Enrique Blanco for his technological leadership in operations and systems during all these years, in which he has set a roadmap in the telco industry that has enabled the Group to be a technological benchmark, offering the company’s customers new generation networks in the main markets.
Mark Evans will also begin a new career outside Telefónica from January 2025 after 13 years with the Group. Juan Azcue will replace Mark as Chief Strategy and Development Officer and will join the Executive Committee from 1 January 2025.
Juan Azcue holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from the Complutense University of Madrid. He began his career in the Madrid office of KPMG in 1999, first in the audit area and later in the Corporate Finance team.
In 2004 he joined the Mergers and Acquisitions team of Telefonica SA, where he participated in the execution of landmark transactions such as the acquisition of O2, the privatisation of Cesky Telecom or the acquisition of 50% of VIVO. In 2019 he took over the management of this area, and since then he has led the execution of strategic transactions such as the merger of O2 with Virgin Media in the UK or the sale of Telxius’ tower business.
Telefónica thanks Mark Evans for his exceptional contribution to positioning Telefónica to meet the challenges of the future. First, as CEO of O2 UK, where he achieved sustained growth in the operation and became a benchmark company in the market for innovation and customer experience. Subsequently, as Global Chief Strategy and Development Officer, from where he led a new company plan that is grouped around three key objectives: Growth, Profitability and Sustainability (GPS).
This renewal of Telefónica’s Executive Committee keeps intact its purpose of generating value for all its stakeholders and the commitment to meet the company’s financial and operational objectives.
