Vodafone has reshuffled its operational structure in Europe and announced that former T-Mobile USA CEO will head up one of the new segments.

The operator’s European structure will now be divided between Northern & Central Europe and Southern Europe.

The Northern & Central region consists of Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Turkey, Ireland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania.

Philipp Humm will lead this new segment following his departure from T-Mobile USA.

The Southern region consists of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Albania and Malta.

It will be led by Paolo Bertoluzzo, current head of Vodafone Italy – a post he will keep.

“Our new regional structure will underpin our strategy focused on meeting our customers’ long-term needs,” commented CEO Vittorio Colao.

The shift seems to reflect the economic situation in Europe that sees the South suffering more than its Northern neighbours.

As we reported in February, Vodafone revenues in Italy and Spain were particularly badly hit last year.

Equally, the company’s former head of Europe, Michel Combes, departed to lead France-based mobile operator SFR earlier this year.