Press release

Bratislava, 2 September 2009 Telefónica Europe today announced that Juraj Sedivy is leaving his post as Chief Executive Officer of Telefónica O2 Slovakia.  Sedivy will be succeeded on 1 October by John McGuigan, Customer Service General Manager at Telefonica O2 UK.

McGuigan - who in his previous role was responsible for the provision of customer service for more than 16 million customers in the UK - will report directly to Salvador Anglada, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Telefónica O2 Czech Republic.

Salvador Anglada said: "I am delighted to announce that John McGuigan has been appointed to the role of CEO of our Slovak operation.  John brings great experience and track record in the field of customer service, and will prove invaluable in ensuring that quality of customer experience is consistently at the highest possible levels."
 
Juraj Sedivy joined the company in 1997 and became Chief Financial Officer of Telefónica O2 Czech Republic when it was formed after the privatisation of Czech Telecom.  In 2006 he assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer of Telefónica O2 Slovakia at start-up. 

Matthew Key, Chairman and CEO of Telefónica Europe, said: "Juraj Sedivy has played a crucial role in establishing and developing our business in Slovakia, his dedication and vision reflected by the fact that the business enjoyed its best-ever customer net additions in the last financial quarter.  In appointing John McGuigan, I am delighted we have once again promoted from within, demonstrating the breadth and depth of management talent at Telefónica.  With John's wide experience in telecommunications, he is well placed to lead and deliver the next chapter of growth in Slovakia."

McGuigan, 49, joined O2 in May 2007 from NHS24, a telephone triage service for Scotland, where he was Chief Executive for two years.

The newest addition to Telefónica's Europe's business portfolio, Telefónica O2 Slovakia launched its commercial service in February 2007 and gained more than 110,000 customers in its first 12 days.  The business remains one of the fastest growing networks in Europe, recording a year-on-year increase of 52 per cent in the first half of 2009.

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About Telefónica

Telefónica is one of the world's largest telecommunications operators by market capitalisation. Its activities are centred mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses, while its broadband business is the key growth driver underpinning both.  It operates in 25 countries and has a global customer base of 264 million. Telefónica's growth strategy is focused on the markets in which it has a strong foothold: Spain, Europe and Latin America.  Telefónica is a 100% private sector company with its shares listed in Madrid and other stock exchanges and more than 1.5 million individual shareholders.

About Telefónica Europe

Telefónica Europe is a business division of Telefónica comprising mobile, fixed and DSL operations in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia - all of which use 'O2' as their consumer brand. Telefónica Europe also has 50% ownership of the UK and Irish Tesco Mobile and German Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture businesses.  In addition, the group includes the Isle of Man integrated fixed/mobile operator, Manx Telecom.  Telefónica Europe is headquartered in Slough, UK, and has more than 47 million mobile and fixed customers.  www.o2.com

Telefónica Europe plc contacts

David Nicholas
Director of Communications
Telefónica Europe plc
david.nicholas@o2.com
m +44 (0)7715 759 176

Simon Lloyd
Head of Media Relations
Telefónica Europe plc
simon.lloyd@o2.com
m +44 (0)7912 072 777

Telefónica Europe plc press office: t +44 (0)1753 628 402.

All Telefónica Europe plc news release can be accessed at our website: http://www.o2.com

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