Melcon joins the telecoms giant’s executive leadership team with over 25 years of experience in the industry, having most recently served as CFO of Vivo (Telefónica Brazil).

Since joining Telefónica in 2001, he has overseen multi-billion-dollar investment programs and led major digital and operational transformations.

Meanwhile, while working for Telefónica Europe, Melcon spent many years collaborating with the O2 team, based in the UK.

VMO2 CEO, Lutz Schüler, said: “David has the experience, knowledge and mindset to really deliver for Virgin Media O2 and he will be a fantastic addition to the team, with this move bringing him back to a market he knows well.

“What stands out for me is not just the scale of what David has delivered, but how he’s done it, with a strong focus on customers, AI-driven transformation and building high-performing diverse teams. This is exactly the talent we need to accelerate our own transformation and build for long-term growth.”

The appointment comes as, last year, the telecoms giant announced Patricia Cobian decided to step down from her role to join BT as group CFO, appointing Mark Hardman, director of finance operations and Nick Taylor, director of capital allocation, as joint interim CFOs during this period.

Schüler added: “I also want to thank Mark Hardman and Nick Taylor, who have jointly led finance & strategy throughout this interim period. Their calm leadership, sound judgement and professionalism have kept us moving forward and they will continue to be exceptional members of our senior team.”

Melcon concluded: “Joining Virgin Media O2 at such an important time for the business is an honour. With more than 25 years in telecoms, I’ve seen how performance and purpose together drive lasting success.

“At Vivo, our transformation more than doubled market value, strengthened our leadership, and built one of Brazil’s most trusted brands – powered by customer focus, sustainability, and an exceptional team.”