Charles Butterworth, chief executive, Vodafone Ireland
9th March 2010
Global market for Irish business.
Indigenous Irish companies and entrepreneurs have been and continue to be crucial to economic growth. In an increasingly global marketplace, a greater proportion of the country’s wealth creation will have to be generated by indigenous companies with the potential to grow and succeed in international markets.
Education and foreign direct investment have been crucial in creating the framework for the development of new technology, skills, management and business know-how with a global orientation.
Future success will arise from nurturing local entrepreneurs and ensuring that they have access to world-class technology in an advanced digital economy; support; and adequate financing to allow them to succeed in an increasingly difficult and global marketplace.
Ireland needs to invest to ensure that high-speed broadband is not only available but also accessible and affordable for all. The digital revolution presents huge opportunities for Ireland.
If we successfully manage it, Ireland can leverage its innovative entrepreneurs and succeed in a global marketplace.
Charles Butterworth's biography
Charles Butterworth is chief executive officer of Vodafone Ireland, having joined the company in July 2007 from Vodafone Group headquarters in the UK.
He joined Vodafone Group as the Director of Group Corporate Finance in May 2002, where he managed and co-ordinated merger and acquisition activity. In 2004, he was appointed as Group Investor Relations Director. In this role, he was responsible for orchestrating an active dialogue with investors and analysts, covering all aspects of Vodafone’s business including operational strategy and financial performance.
Before joining Vodafone Group, Butterworth spent nine years with UBS investment bank where he specialised in the telecoms sector, and in particular mobile. He is currently a board member of Vodafone Italy and Arcor in Germany.
Since becoming CEO, Butterworth has lead Vodafone Ireland’s move into the fixed-line space with the acquisition of Perlico and the launch of Vodafone at Home in 2007 and the acquisition of BT's retail, consumer and small business space in 2009.
Vodafone is Ireland's leading total communications provider, with 2.15 million mobile customers comprising business and personal. In addition, the company has 186,000 fixed-line customers, bringing Vodafone Ireland’s total telecoms base to 2.33 million as of 31 December, 2009.
