Review
"...Timed to coincide with Vodafone's results yesterday comes Rollercoaster, Trevor Merriden's history of the company and its outgoing chief executive Sir Christopher Gent..." (Daily Telegraph, 28 May 2003)
"...a fantastic read...it gives the reader an insight into their (Chris Gent & Vodafone) stunning achievement..." (Management Today, June 2003)
"...a fast-paced and compelling narrative...Rollercoaster presents the only true picture of the fortunes of the man and the company..." (Luton News, 4 June 2003)
"...Here you will find all the highlights of the spectacular story of one of the UK's genuine world class companies..." (Accounting & Business, July/August 2003)
"...not just an exciting and pacey history of one of the world's most powerful company's, it provides a real insight..." (Get Feedback, 23 June 2003)
"...Merriden writes clearly and tells a good story..." (Information Age, July 2003)
"...this is a fascinating account of the troubles of Vodafone..." (The Shetland Times, 19 September 2003)
"...compelling reading..." (Long Range Planning, Vol 37, 2004)
From the Inside Flap
Vodafone is today the largest mobile telecommunications network group in the world. Its phenomenal growth in recent years has come to be associated largely with one person, chief executive Sir Christopher Gent.
The six years of Gent’s tenure has been a massive rollercoaster ride for both Vodafone and himself. After taking over as Vodafone chief executive in January 1997, he enjoyed huge success in developing it into an international powerhouse. When the technology bubble burst, Gent and Vodafone took a seriously scary and prolonged downward plunge. Stocks slid to less than a quarter of the peak value and big questions were raised over his stewardship of his company.
In Rollercoaster, Trevor Merriden charts the dramatic ups and downs of Vodafone and Gent, and he assesses the underlying forces driving the man and the company - from the early days of Gent and the battle for Mannesmann, through to why Gent left, what his legacy is and what his successor will bring.
The story of Vodafone and Gent is paradoxical. Loved by the City as a brilliant dealmaker, Gent himself is often described by those who know him as affable and self-effacing. Yet he has somehow fostered a deeply engrained culture of ruthless ambition in those who run Vodafone in his name.
Above all, Rollercoaster is a fast-paced and compelling business narrative that chronicles one of the most dramatic periods in business history.
