Pictured above: New CEO chairman Amanda Nelson

Vodafone Malta has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Balesh Sharma, will be leaving to take on the post of Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone’s operation in the Czech Republic with effect from 1^st November.

Outgoing CEO Balesh Sharma

Mr. Sharma started his assignment in Malta in February 2011. During this period Vodafone Malta has consolidated its market share leadership and managed to improve financial performance despite adverse economic conditions and a very challenging market sector. It also underwent a change in organisational culture with the move to the new headquarters in SkyParks.

“I feel extremely privileged to have led such a dynamic and passionate team at Vodafone Malta. We worked hard, thereby achieving such positive results, but we also learned how to do it with gusto. I’ll never forget when we did the Harlem Shake, went around Malta partying  our way to Skyparks in an open top bus, or got to hang out with Lewis Hamilton!” said Mr.Sharma.

He added, “On a professional level, my experience here has been very enriching.  On a personal level, living in Malta has been a sheer delight for me and my family. We will cherish the friendships and fond memories of Malta forever”.

Mr. Sharma joined Vodafone in 2003 and has since held a variety of senior roles. Before coming to Malta, Mr. Sharma was CEO of the Vodafone Gujarat Region since 2008.

Mr. Sharma will stay on the Board of Directors of Vodafone Malta, initially as a non-executive Chairman.

Mr. Sharma will be replaced in Malta by Mrs. Amanda Nelson.

Mrs. Nelson comes with 15 years of experience with Vodafone Group plc. She joined the company in 1998 working in the central finance team during the period when Vodafone was expanding globally. Since then she has held various senior finance positions in New Zealand, Japan, UK and the Netherlands.

In 2009 she became Chief Financial Officer of Vodafone Netherlands and was a key player in the management team that made the company the most successful mobile operator in that market. In 2012, she became a Commercial Director in the same company responsible for a market segment of 2 million customers and €1bn revenue.

Mrs. Nelson’s experience in both commercial and financial leadership, and her experience across multiple markets, will mean that Malta can continue to benefit from being part of such a global and connected Group.

Mrs.Nelson is from the UK, is married and has 4 children.