The former head of Vodafone’s southern European business has been brought to the company as deputy chief executive in charge of European operations

One time tipped as a future Vodafone chief executive, Vittorio Colao, is due to come back to the company next month – October 9 – and will replace Sir Julian Horn-Smith as deputy chief executive. He also replaces Bill Morrow who left the company for family reasons.

Chief executive Arun Sarin said in a statement: “Vittorio made an outstanding contribution in his previous roles at Vodafone and he is a highly effective manager. We have a number of major challenges and opportunities in our European region and I am confident that, given his background and experience, Vittorio is well equipped to succeed in this key position.”

Colao’s return to Vodafone may be fortuitous: He quit the publisher of Italy’s Corriere della Sera (RCS) in July after shareholders at RCS cut his executive powers.

Colao who is 44, will be returning to the firm at a challenging time. Sarin will, no doubt, be looking to his deputy to shore up the firm’s ailing European operations.