---
title: Vodacom South Africa MD Balesh Sharma calls it quits - Developing Telecoms
description: Vodacom South Africa MD Balesh Sharma is leaving the mobile operator after less than two years in the role. He has decided to pursue a new opportunity in Europe after two decades with Vodafone Group, the parent company.
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Vodacom South Africa MD Balesh Sharma is leaving the mobile operator after less than two years in the role. He has decided to pursue a new opportunity in Europe after two decades with Vodafone Group, the parent company.

Sharma joined the Vodafone Group in India in March 2003 where he held various senior leadership roles before moving to international assignments as CEO of Vodafone Malta and then CEO of Vodafone Czech Republic, driving successful turnarounds in both roles.

“He later returned to India to help the company fight one of the industry’s most competitive environments. In his capacity as the founding CEO of Vodafone Idea, Balesh managed the integration of Vodafone and Idea, delivering substantial synergies within the first year post-merger, and successfully completing a rights issue of US$3.5-billion for the merged entity,” Vodacom said in the statement.

To ensure a smooth transition, Sharma will remain in his role for the next three months, Vodacom said in a statement.

Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub said: "During this time, he led the improvements in market share, net promoter scores, network, churn improvement, TOBI, Vodacom Business performance and also drove the winning back of data market share.

Balesh was strong support various critical Vodacom projects such as the recent spectrum auction, which saw Vodacom successfully acquire a total of 110 MHz high-demand spectrum. We wish Balesh the very best for the next chapter of his career and will announce his successor in due course.”

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