Liberty dealmaker Andrea Salvato tipped for Vodafone

Andrea Salvato, chief development officer at telecoms giant Liberty Global, has emerged as a possible replacement for Vodafone boss Nick Read. 

City sources place him alongside likely candidates such as ex-EE boss Olaf Swantee and Stephen Carter, head of exhibitions organiser Informa. 

Salvato, 52, is one of the top dealmakers at Liberty, an Anglo-Dutch-American conglomerate. 

Looking ahead: Andrea Salvato’s appointment would send a clear signal that Vodafone was looking to strike big deals

Previously at JP Morgan Chase’s investment banking division, he joined Liberty in 2005 and has been in his current role since 2012. 

He has a reputation for orchestrating massive transactions at Liberty. 

His appointment would send a clear signal that Vodafone was looking to strike big deals, something investors have been calling for. 

‘If Salvato is in the frame, it clearly represents a statement of intent to get deals over the line,’ said telecoms analyst Paolo Pescatore.