Sarin, Arun 1954–

Arun Sarin 1954–

Chief executive officer, Vodafone Group

Nationality: Indian, American.

Born: October 21, 1954, in India.

Education: Indian Institute of Technology, BS, 1975; University of California at Berkeley, MS, 1977, MBA, 1978.

Family: Son of Krishan Sarin (military officer) and Ramilla (maiden name unknown); married Rummi Anand (homemaker); children: two.

Career: 1978–1981, management consultant, environmental analyst; Natomas Company, 1981–1984, corporate development manager; Pacific Telesis Group, 1984–1994, various positions including corporate development, chief financial officer, chief strategic officer, vice president, and general manager; AirTouch Communications, 1994, vice president of human resources; 1994–1995, senior vice president of corporate strategy and development; 1995–1997, president and chief executive officer; 1997–1999, president and chief operating officer; Vodafone-AirTouch, 1999–2000, chief executive, U.S.-Asia Pacific region; InfoSpace, 2000, chief executive officer; Accel-KKR Telecom, 2001–2003, chief executive officer; Vodafone Group, 2003–, chief executive officer.

Awards: University of California at Berkeley, Haas School Business Leader of Year, 2002; University of California Trust (UK) Award, 2003.

Address: Vodafone Group, Vodafone House, The Connection, Newbury, West Berkshire, RG14 2FN, United Kingdom; http://www.vodafone.com.

■ Arun Sarin spent almost his entire working life in the telecommunications industry. He built an enviable professional record by combining various talents and skills: his technical knowledge, his business strategy, and his financial acumen were all legendary. He held several senior-executive-level positions in major U.S. companies in the telecommunications industry. At times, his ascension into top-management positions appeared almost meteoric. Described by superiors and industry analysts as possessing determination and drive, he received

Arun Sarin. AP/Wide World Photos .

high marks for his work in the preparation and financial analyses for business mergers and acquisitions in the growing telecommunications industry. His July 30, 2003, appointment as chief executive officer (CEO) of Vodafone, a multibillion-dollar British international wireless-communications company, was a tribute to his life's work and testimony to his broad appeal and respect among various constituents.

THE EARLY YEARS

Upon graduation from the IIT in 1975 with a bachelor of science degree in engineering, Sarin received a full scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley, Graduate College of Engineering. For the Indian-born Sarin, California would become his adopted home and the United States his adopted country. While pursuing his engineering degree Sarin met his future wife, Remmi, also an Indian and a graduate student. She persuaded him to enroll in a finance course in the business school. He performed so well that he decided to pursue an MBA majoring in finance concurrently with his engineering degree. In 1977 he was awarded a master's degree in engineering, and the following year he received his MBA. The dual degrees gave him a competitive edge in seeking employment and bolstered his career over time.

GROWING UP IN THE WIRELESS INDUSTRY: ALL IN THE FAMILY

Sarin started his professional life in 1978, working as an environmental analyst for a Washington, D.C., consulting firm. In 1981 he returned to California to join the Natomas Company in San Francisco as a corporate development manager. A few years later Sarin entered the telecommunications industry, a field he chose by design: "When I graduated I went into the energy industry because it was hot … the consultancy I worked for was acquired and in 1984 I looked at the world and saw that telecoms was hot so I joined Pacific Telesis" ( Communications Week International , September 11, 2000). At Pacific Telesis Group, a Bell spin-off, Sarin met and started working closely with Sam Ginn, the legendary telecommunications entrepreneur, who helped steer Sarin's management career in the industry. As a new employee in the industry, his background in finance facilitated his work on cellular-business acquisitions.

Sarin worked with Pacific Telesis in various professional and executive positions for 10 years, receiving several important promotions, assuming increasing levels of administrative responsibility, and expanding his executive experience. He strengthened the internal financial controls at the company, and Ginn promoted him to chief financial officer after the company completed a major acquisition. Soon he was appointed vice president of corporate strategy, and at the age of 35 he became the youngest corporate officer at Pacific Telesis. Sarin left the company in 1994 when it split its mobile and paging businesses. He followed his mentor Ginn to a newly formed wireless-communications company, AirTouch Communications.