Vodafone Germany Names New Network Director in Leader Shift

Vodafone Germany confirms a leadership change at the top of its technology division. Fabrizio Giuseppe Rocchio takes over from Tanja Richter as Managing Director & Network Director, beginning 1 February 2026. 

The move follows Richter's decision to step away from her current role after more than 30 years at the company to explore new career opportunities.

Three decades shaping Vodafone’s network strength

Tanja Richter, currently Managing Director of Technology at Vodafone Germany, leads the company’s network operations. 

Her career spans several senior roles across the Vodafone Group, including Chief Technology Officer in the Czech Republic and Consumer Products & Services Director at Group Technology.

Since 2022, Tanja has held overall responsibility for Vodafone’s networks in Germany. During this period, she oversaw the expansion and performance of what the company describes as the largest gigabit network in the country. 

She lead her teams through improvements in fixed-line and mobile services, focusing on network stability and resilience. The result is a consistently strong showing in national mobile network tests.

Within the mobile communications realm, Vodafone has pioneered the rollout of the new Open RAN technology, with four major independent mobile network tests showing that Vodafone's technology teams have developed and strengthened its mobile network.

Marcel de Groot, Vodafone Germany CEO, says: “Tanja Richter has played a key role in shaping three decades of Vodafone's technological history. 

“With her team, she has brought our networks to peak performance, both on the ground and in the air, tested and verified by numerous experts. I thank her very much for this and wish her all the best for the future.”

Richter also uses her platform to support women in technical roles. She acts as a role model within the organisation and supports various initiatives to promote women in engineering and technology careers.

Rocchio brings deep technical and operational experience

Fabrizio Rocchio assumes his new post after nearly four years as Network Development Director. 

In this role, he oversees infrastructure development and service operations. Fabrizio brings with him over 25 years of experience in the telecoms industry, much of it spent within Vodafone’s own operations across Europe.

Marcel says: “With Fabrizio Rocchio, we are gaining an experienced, international manager who has already successfully implemented numerous transformations. 

“I look forward to working with him and his team to further advance Vodafone's networks. Because for our customers, as well as for our growth plans in Germany, the largest gigabit network in the country is a top priority.”.

Between 2014 and 2021, Fabrizio serveed as Technology Director (CTIO) at Vodafone Italy. There, he was responsible for the management and strategy of network and IT services. 

Fabrizio’s appointment marks a continuation of Vodafone’s emphasis on technical leadership with a global outlook and operational experience across fixed and mobile systems.

Company focus stays on network reliability and customer growth

Vodafone places clear emphasis on its fixed and mobile networks as a central part of its strategy in Germany. 

Tanja’s tenure highlights this with improved network stability and resilience. Fabrizio’s track record suggests a similar focus on quality and operational efficiency.

The operator’s strategy remains tied to network performance as a growth lever. As Open RAN deployments expand and customer expectations evolve, Fabrizio steps into a role with both technical depth and commercial significance.