Andy Halford, group chief financial officer of mobile telecoms giant Vodafone, is to leave the company after nine years in the role. He will be replaced by Nick Read, who is currently chief executive of the Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific (AMAP) region and a former UK CFO for the company.

Vodafone Group confirmed today that its group CFO, Andy Halford, has informed the Board that after almost nine years in role, he intends to leave the Group at the end of March 2014 after the conclusion of Vodafone's transaction with Verizon Communications Inc. Read will take up the new appointment from 1 January 2014.

Halford's tenure as group CFO has seen a number of high profile tax disputes, including the recently reported multimillion pound settlement with HMRC over disputed tax claims at an Irish subsidiary created to collect royalty payments for using its brand.

Halford said: 'Next year will be the right time for me to move on and seek the next challenge in my career, and I thank the Board, Vittorio and the team for their support over the years.'

Halford joined Vodafone in 1999 as CFO for Northern Europe, the Middle East and Africa in 2001 and became CFO of Verizon Wireless - Vodafone's US joint venture with Verizon Communications Inc - in 2002. He was appointed to the Vodafone Group Board as group CFO in 2005.

Vodafone group chief executive Vittorio Colao said: 'Andy and I have worked together for many years: he has played an integral role in creating immense value for our shareholders and shaping the future direction of the Group.'

His successor, Read joined Vodafone in 2001. He was CFO at Vodafone's UK operating company before being appointed UK Chief Executive in 2006 and more recently chief executive of the Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific (AMAP) region for the mobile giant.