Debunking suggestions that he was being pushed out, the Indian-origin Sarin, who figured regularly in the lists of most successful CEOs across the globe, said, "The decision to leave the company is entirely my own."

Sarin, 53, was asked to intervene after several Indian shareholders stood up at the company's Annual General Meeting to ask if the India-born CEO had been "pushed" from the top post.

Sarin, in reply, said, "I am assuming this is meant to be some kind of a backhanded compliment. Far from being pushed it was my decision. I approached the Chairman Sir John Bond, six to eight months ago, asking to be relieved because I wanted to spend more time with my family and return to California."

He recalled that when he joined Vodafone five years ago "I had a view: we wanted an international company, an integrated company, a real culture, a successful company."

"We wanted Vodafone to be not just in mobile telephony, but also be a leading player in broadband and internet provision. The things that I came to do, I've done," he said.

Sarin to head to the Himalayas!