Financial Times: Radio DJ wants Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin’s head on plate?

Link: FT.com / Companies / Telecoms – Mayo puts Vodafone on notice

Just when Vodafone was enjoying plaudits for what by the telecommunications industry’s standards was a decent set of results for 2006-07, along comes a rebel to stir things up.

Vodafone’s shares jumped sharply in early trading on Thursday as investors reacted to news that a specially-formed vehicle backed by John Mayo, former deputy chief executive of Marconi, was agitating for dramatic change at the group.

Arun Sarin, chief executive of the world’s largest mobile phone group by revenue, made plain his displeasure with Mr Mayo’s decision to go public by cancelling a meeting with him that had been arranged for Thursday lunchtime.

You know you’ve had just a little too much caffeine (Irn Bru — I’ve been ill today) when you read an FT story with the headline Mayo puts Vodafone on notice and think to yourself:

‘Simon Mayo? The radio DJ? What sort of beef has he got with Vodafone?? :: click ::’

For the international audience (and, there is a sizable amount of you — helloooooooo), Simon Mayo is a pretty well known radio DJ.

The MAYO we’re talking about here, John Mayo, might well be a listener to BBC Radio 5 Live, when he’s not agitating Mr Sarin.

Anything that agitates Vodafone toward dramatic change shouldn’t necessarily be sniffed at. I’ve long been a rather direct critic of many Vodafone elements. Still, you can’t argue with the fact that they’re simply huge and, obviously, doing something right. The 120mb data plan for 7.50/month is, by the way, enough to shut me up, I think. It’s not brilliant. But it placates me, short term.