London, Oct 8 (IANS) Former Vodafone chief executive Arun Sarin has rejoined Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) as a senior adviser, according to the New York-based private equity company he quit six years ago.
Indian-born Sarin, 54, left KKR in 2003 to join Vodafone and resigned from the mobile phone group last year.

Sarin, whose five years in Vodafone saw the company reap record profits of $13.16 billion in the year to March 31, 2008, will provide advice to KKR’s investment and operations specialists.

During his tenure, Vodafone returned capital of approximately 34 billion pounds ($55 bn) to shareholders including dividends and buy backs.

Sarin said Wednesday he was “very pleased” to be working with KKR once again.

“KKR is a preeminent investment firm that has evolved over three decades and expanded its investment capabilities. I am excited to contribute my own experience to cultivating KKR’s existing investments and enhancing the Firm’s growth initiatives,” he added.

KKR co-founders Henry R. Kravis and George R. Roberts said: “From our past close partnerships with Arun - starting when he became CEO of Accel-KKR Telecom almost a decade ago and then as a Senior Advisor to KKR - we know first-hand of Arun’s deep knowledge, global relationships, and diversified career as a world-class executive.

“We look forward to leveraging his broad business acumen, 25 years of experience and leadership across a variety of management and investment initiatives,” they said.