French number-two operator SFR has appointed Vodafone Europe CEO Michel Combes (pictured) as its new chief executive and member of its management board.

Combes, who is due to start in his role on 1 August (pending approval), has previously been CEO at TDF and CFO of France Telecom and has also worked for the French government. As well as being CEO of Vodafone Europe, Combes is also currently director of Vodafone PLC. He studied at the Ecole Polytechnique and Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications.

Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of SFR’s parent group Vivendi, said that Combes’ leadership experience and knowledge of the international telecom sector “will be invaluable to lead the company in the challenges ahead.”

“We have every confidence in its ability to mobilize teams of SFR and build with them a successful project," he added. Levy will continue to be president of SFR until Combes assumes his new position.

"I am particularly pleased to join Vivendi and SFR, companies that I know for many years and I measure at a time of enormous potential, team quality and extent of challenges," said Combes.