Call finally comes for heir apparent

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There has been little doubt that Colao was heir apparent since he was poached back from running media giant RCS Media of Corriere della Sera and Gazzetta dello Sport fame in October 2006.

Not only was his title of deputy chief executive a clear pointer, but his arrival came immediately after a bruising punch-up with investors over Vodafone's strategy in the United States.

The then new chairman Sir John Bond was seen to be not simply ensuring succession but also endorsing Sarin as chief executive by appointing a longtime colleague as his deputy. Both ran mobile businesses - Sarin at AirTouch in the US and Colao at Omnitel in Italy - eventually part of Vodafone.

Today Colao, 46, who is married with two children, was playing down his plans for the company. "Arun is in charge until 29 July and I will carry on running Europe and Technology until then. My priority will be thinking about the organisational strategy, but only after Arun has gone," he said. In truth, however, his main efforts are dictated by Sarin's legacy: full integration of last year's Indian acquisition, more expansion in Africa, resolution of the way forward in the US and an eventual move to total control of the SFR business in France.

With his MBA from Harvard, an early career with management consultants McKinsey and even a brief stint at investment bank Morgan Stanley, Colao has the full credentials of the modern multinational chief executive.

Unlike most, he could still be called up by the Carabinieri, or military police, where he is a reserve officer.