Vodafone New Zealand Ltd. CEO Russell Stanners is stepping down from the role at the end of October, following 17 years of service at the company.

Stanners joined the New Zealand unit of Vodafone Group PLC in 2002 as its first enterprise director. He was appointed CEO in 2005.

Jason Paris, Vodafone's director for convergence acceleration in Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific, will succeed Stanners. His appointment is effective Nov. 1, the company said in a statement.

Paris worked for Spark New Zealand Ltd., where he was chief executive of the company's home, mobile and business division.