BUZZ-Vodafone: CEO steps down

** Vodafone down 3.7 pct as CEO Vittorio Colao's resignation overshadows strong Q4 results

** Colao to be replaced by Nick Read, finance director since 2014 and long seen as the likely successor

** During Colao's tenure, shares have risen about 50 pct

** Under Colao, VOD pulled back from its once brazen expansionist drive to be able to build up its European operations from a pure mobile player to a broader communications provider that offers everything from cable TV to broadband and enterprise services

** Last week, VOD struck long-expected $21.8 bln deal to buy Liberty Global (Frankfurt: A1W0FL - news) 's cable TV and broadband networks in Germany and Eastern Europe; Co also merging operations in India with Idea Cellular

** "With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) the LBTY deal announced and India set to close, he leaves behind a strategically well-positioned portfolio for his successor Nick Read, the Group CFO, who we think is a safe pair of hands" - Bernstein analysts

** Co reports 1.4 pct rise in Q4 organic service revenue, above analyst forecasts for a 1.1 pct rise

** FY core earnings rose 11.8 pct to 14.7 bln euros, ahead of analyst forecasts of 14.6 bln euros