Facebook owner Meta has appointed Vodafone Ireland CEO Anne O'Leary as vice-president of its mid-market business division for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and she will also become part of the Meta Ireland site leadership team when she joins in September.

O'Leary has been head of Vodafone Ireland for nearly a decade since February 2013, having previously served as the company's enterprise director since joining the mobile network operator from BT in 2008.

During her time as CEO, she oversaw the nationwide rollouts of Vodafone Ireland's 4G and 5G networks, the launch of its SIRO joint venture with ESB as well as initiatives to drive the digital society and accessibility agendas.

O'Leary will lead a large sales team supporting Meta's SME clients in the EMEA region with their digital transformation efforts and alerting them to opportunities with messaging, short-form video and in the nascent metaverse.

"I’m thrilled to welcome a leader of Anne’s calibre and experience to the Meta team. She joins us at an exciting time as we continue to expand our business tools across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp and as we create new opportunities for businesses in VR and the metaverse," said Angie Gifford, Meta's VP of global business group for EMEA.

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Commenting on her appointment, O’Leary said: “After 14 wonderful years at Vodafone, I am hugely excited to start a new chapter working with the Meta team.

"In an ever more competitive digital economy, I look forward to connecting with, and supporting, small and medium businesses across Europe, Middle East & Africa to evolve with digital change, embrace transformation and the tools that will help them to grow and scale their businesses across the world.”

Vodafone Ireland said in a statement that O'Leary "has been a consistent and passionate advocate for the difference Vodafone can make to the people of Ireland, championing connectivity and leading through continued investment in Ireland's telecommunications infrastructure.

"She has placed a huge focus on the digital society agenda in Ireland and has always firmly believed that equality of access to connectivity will change how everyone in Ireland lives and works, particularly those in rural Ireland."

The company continued: "Anne has also been a driving force in creating a business that has purpose and culture at its heart. She has been an enthusiastic and active advocate for the creation of an open and inclusive workplace environment within Vodafone but also across industry.

"She has shown incredible passion for diversity & inclusion, in particular gender equality, and has shaped market-leading policies that support flexibility, family, menopause and domestic violence. This type of leadership has helped position Vodafone as an employer of choice within the market.

"Over the last nine years as CEO, Anne has been an extraordinary leader, advisor and guide to those around her. She will be missed by her friends and colleagues at Vodafone Ireland who wish her the very best in this new chapter."

O'Leary's successor at Vodafone Ireland will be announced in due course.

Photo: Anne O'Leary.