Craig Silliman, Verizon Communications' senior vice president for public policy, has been appointed as the company's next general counsel, replacing Randal Milch on 1 January 2015.

Milch will remain at the US and UK-listed telecoms giant, moving into a new position as strategic policy adviser to Verizon's chairman and chief executive Lowell McAdam.

Silliman, who will also report directly to McAdam, will head the legal, regulatory, government affairs and security groups of the company, which last year reached $120bn (£77bn) in revenues.

The lawyer previously served as general counsel for Verizon's wireline consumer business and wholesale groups, managing a team of more than 260 legal and regulatory experts in 20 countries.

"Randy's leadership during some of the company's most significant changes have played a major part in our success and is something we will take full advantage of in his new role," commented McAdam.

During his time as GC, Milch took a role one of the largest M&A deals in history, the 2013 re-purchase of Vodafone's 45% stake in the company for $120bn (£77bn), as well as the subsequent $49bn (£31bn) US bond issue to finance the deal, the largest corporate debt sale in history.

For the Vodafone acquisition, Verizon turned to Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and Macfarlanes, Jones Day on tax matters, and Debevoise & Plimpton for the financing.

"Craig is a proven leader with extensive experience across the business in legal, public policy and legislative issues, which will serve him well in this new role," added McAdam.