Telecoms giant Vodafone has appointed former Reuters legal chief Rosemary Martin as its group general counsel and company secretary.

Martin will take up her new role on 1 April, replacing Stephen Scott, who is retiring after 30 years with the company.

Martin spent 11 years with Reuters before leaving in 2008 to take up a post as chief executive of legal publishing company Practical Law Group. During her time with Reuters she held various roles, but was general counsel at the time of her departure. She previously served as a corporate partner at Mayer Brown.

Vodafone Group chief executive Vittorio Colao said: "We are delighted to welcome Rosemary to the Vodafone executive committee, as she brings in a wealth of experience from prestigious companies and will be an asset to Vodafone moving forward.

"At the same time, I would like to extend my thanks to Stephen, who has made a very significant contribution to the company since its inception and has played a key role in helping build Vodafone into what we are today. Rosemary will be working closely with Stephen in the coming months to ensure a smooth transition."

In 2005 Martin instigated Reuters' first-ever formal review of its external legal advisers, naming nine firms including Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Ashurst, Clifford Chance, Burges Salmon, Weil Gotshal & Manges and Mayer Brown to the panel. In 2008 she was appointed to by the UK Government to its Legal Services Board.