O2 appoints chief executive after resignation of Danuta Gray

WELSHMAN Stephen Shurrock has been appointed chief executive of O2 Ireland, taking over from Danuta Gray who has announced her resignation after nine years in the post.

Mr Shurrock, who joins the company’s Irish operations from his current position as consumer sales director at O2 UK, will formally take over here at the beginning of December; at which time he will also replace Ms Gray on the board of Telefonica Europe, the Spanish telecommunications group which owns O2.

Ms Gray will, however, remain very much connected with the group; taking up the position of non-executive chairman of O2 Ireland and a new advisory role within Telefonica Europe on behalf of group chief executive Matthew Key. At a wider European level, she will work on a number of key strategic projects aimed at shaping the future position of the group.

Concerning Ms Gray’s announcement, Mr Key paid tribute to the work she has done in Ireland – calling her “a great and effective leader” – where she led the group to its current position of second largest mobile communications provider in the country and oversaw a period in which O2 doubled its customer base here.

“I am delighted that she has agreed to continue as part-time non-executive chairman in Ireland and I look forward to working with her in an advisory capacity on a number of projects across Telefonica Europe, where we will benefit from her considerable expertise, passion and experience,” Mr Key said .

He said Mr Shurrock’s appointment as chief executive here underlines the group’s commitment to Ireland.