Philips CEO Gerard Kleisterlee is the frontrunner to become the next chairman of Vodafone Group, the Financial Times reports. People familiar with the matter said Vodafone has a shortlist of three candidates to succeed current chairman John Bond, and Kleisterlee is the mobile operator's preferred candidate. Vodafone and Philips declined to comment. Vodafone's board will be asked shortly to approve Kleisterlee's appointment. He would initially join Vodafone as a non-executive director, and step up to the chairman's role at the next annual meeting. Kleisterlee is set to step down as Philips CEO at the end of March after ten years in the role.
