Vodafone has been struggling with its Japanese unit for some time and attempts to turn it around have so far met with limited, if any, success. This has frustrated Vodafone's management and investors alike.

Vodafone would shed a unit that it just doesn't seem able to fix and which certainly does not fit within the profile of the Vodafone investment portfolio.

This has frustrated Vodafone's management and investors alike.

It's a disparate mix--there are so many different styles of joint venture; there's huge pressure on the U.S. It's a real tricky job. It's a noble task to try and gather all those places under one roof, but Paul Donovan has got a lot of sleepless nights ahead of him.