Vodacom Group has moved to simplify its structure, creating a standalone South African operation and appointing an MD, a newly created role that will be filled by Vodafone executive Balesh Sharma.

“For Vodacom Group to play a central role of overseeing all operations across its African footprint, this has necessitated the creation of a standalone South African operating company that will be led by Balesh Sharma in the newly created role of managing director: Vodacom South Africa,” the telecommunications group said in a statement on Thursday.

The new structure will place heightened emphasis on our international portfolio and new growth areas…

Vodacom Group said this follows the recent expansion of its African portfolio and accelerated growth ambitions on the continent, including in financial services and digital services.

‘Right structure’

“The stellar financial performance of our international portfolio, combined with the added responsibility of managing Vodafone Ghana and accelerating the growth of financial and digital services, means that we needed to put the right structure in place to deliver on our ambition of becoming a leading pan-African technology company,” said group CEO Shameel Joosub in the statement.

With effect from 1 July, Beverly Ngwenya and Sitho Mdlalose will join the new Vodacom South Africa exco as technology director and financial director respectively, reporting into Sharma.