Markus Haas appointed as CEO of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG

The supervisory board has resolved today to appoint Markus Haas as CEO of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG effective as of 1 January 2017. Currently, he is Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Markus Haas will lead Telefónica Deutschland in close cooperation with Rachel Empey, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer. Both led Telefónica Deutschland through a successful IPO, the merger with E-Plus Group and the integration of both companies. The supervisory board of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG has also agreed with Markus Haas to further extend his term of office until 31 December 2019. Rachel Empey, in addition to her current responsibility for Finance and Corporate Strategy, will be responsible for the areas of Transformation & Integration, Business Intelligence, Innovation and Telefónica Next. The supervisory board of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG has also agreed with Rachel Empey to further extend her term of office until 31 December 2018. The current CEO Thorsten Dirks will continue to support the management team until the end of the first quarter 2017 to ensure a smooth transition in leadership.

Markus Haas has worked for Telefónica since 1998 in different leading management positions. Since 2009 he has been Managing Director and since 2012 a member of the management board of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG. Rachel Empey has worked in different leading management positions for the Telefónica Group since 2004. She has been a member of the management board of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG since 2012. Telefónica Deutschland reiterates its full-year 2016 outlook as well as its commitment to its overall strategy, synergy case and dividend policy. On behalf of the supervisory board, Eva Castillo Sanz commented: "We are very pleased to be able to announce the appointment of Markus Haas as the new CEO of Telefónica Deutschland. Markus Haas and Rachel Empey have proved to be a very strong leadership team in the past years and will drive the further transformation of the business to the Leading Digital OnLife Telco in Germany. The internal succession is a clear signal of continuity for our shareholders, employees and business partners in the execution of the integration and transformation processes. The supervisory board is looking forward to continuing our further successful collaboration with Markus Haas and Rachel Empey.” Further information: Management Board