Management

Lasha Tabidze, Veon Georgia CEO

Lasha Tabidze became CEO on 15 March 2021. Before becoming a CEO, Lasha served as a Chief Operations Officer of Veon Georgia from 2018 to 2021, a post he was promoted to from the position of Chief Commercial Officer. Overall Lasha’s experience in the telecommunications sector amounts to 10 years.

Lasha has many years of experience in business operations, having occupied leading positions in this field. Before joining Veon Georgia in 2011, Lasha was a Commercial Director at JSC Sarajishvili and before that a Business Development Director at Vellagio Ltd. (Wissol group).

Lasha has a degree in Economics from the Ruprecht-Karls University of Heidelberg, Germany and is a graduate of Tbilisi State University, Georgia in the field of  International Business. Lasha fluently speaks four languages: Georgian, English, German and Russian.

Dimitri Shughliashvili joined Veon Georgia LLC in 2016 as the CIO. From 2019 he has been  both the CIO and CTO.  

Before  Veon Georgia LLC Dimitri held various management positions at Caucasus Online for over 10 years, including his role as a CIO. His earlier experience includes the developer and system administrator positions at  the leading companies of Georgia.

Dimitri holds a degree in Computer Science from the Georgian Technical University. He speaks Georgian, English and Russian.

Irakli Esartia was appointed as the CLO of Veon Georgia LLC in 2015. His responsibilities include legal and regulatory issues, as well as relations with government agencies. Before, he was in charge of legal and regulatory matters. Irakli also chairs the Sanctions and Export Controls Committee of Veon Group.

Irakli joined Veon Georgia LLC team in 2006 as a senior lawyer. Prior to transfer to Veon Georgia, Irakli worked as a lawyer at ProCredit Bank and Tbilisi City Hall.

Irakli holds a degree in law from the Tbilisi State University and is a certified civil law lawyer. Irakli speaks  Georgian, English and Russian.

Vasil Berishvili has been holding the position of the CFO of Veon Georgia LLC since 2015. Prior to transfer to Veon Georgia LLC, Vasil worked for the Geocell Telecommunications Company for 15 years, including the position of CFO in 2013-2015. He started working for Geocell in 2000 as a financial accounting specialist. Vasil also has a background in auditing and law.

Vasil holds a Master’s degree in Digital Currencies from the University of Nicosia and a degree in Business Administration from the Georgian Technical University. He speaks Georgian, English and Russian.

Lela Salakaia has served as the CPO of Veon Georgia LLC since 2007. Before transfer to Veon Georgia LLC, in 2005-2007 Lela worked as the Human Resources Director at PSP Group, the largest pharmaceutical company in Georgia. From 2003 to 2005, Lela headed the Human Resources Department at UGT, a leading information technology and communications company. Lela also has experience in the banking sector, in particular, she worked with the Bank Republic (Societe Generale Group). As a guest lecturer, Lela delivers lectures at almost all of the leading higher education institutions in Georgia.

Lela holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Psychology from the Tbilisi State University, a Master’s degree from the Amherst Institute for Training and Development, and the Maastricht School of Management.

Lela speaks Georgian, English and Russian.

Sophie Balavadze has been heading the Public Relations of Veon Georgia LLC since 2018. Prior to transfer to Veon Georgia, Sophie worked for a leading Georgian bank, JSC Bank of Georgia, as the Director of Public Relations, Internal Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility. Sophie spent a total of 13 years with the Bank of Georgia, where she started her career as an internal communications manager. Prior to joining the Bank of Georgia, Sophie worked at the British Embassy in Georgia.

Sophie holds a Master’s degree in Communications Management from the Swiss Università Della Svizzera Italiana and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Caucasus University. Sophie is fluent in Georgian, English and Russian, speaks German and French.

Ia Mameishvili has been working as the Local Ethics and Compliance Officer of Veon Georgia LLC  since 2017. Ia joined the Company in early 2017 as a compliance specialist.

Prior to joining Veon Georgia LLC, from 2010 to 2017, Ia served as a financial monitoring manager at JSC Basis Bank.

Ia holds an International Diploma in Governance, Risk and Compliance from the International Compliance Association, in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester. Ia received her  law degree from the Tbilisi State University. She speaks  Georgian, English and Russian.

Marika Chabukiani was promoted to the position of Veon Georgia LLC Customer Experience Manager in 2018. Prior to that, from 2009 to 2018, Marika was a customers’ telephone service team leader at the same company. Marika’s career with Veon Georgia LLC started in 2007.

Marika was educated in art history at the Tbilisi State University. She speaks Georgian, English and Russian.