MUMBAI: Cable distribution veteran SN Sharma has quit Reliance Jio, a subsidiary of Mukesh Ambani promoted Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL).

Sources in RIL confirmed that Sharma has put in his papers last week.

Sharma had joined RIL’s media-cum-telecom venture Reliance Jio in 2015  and was brought on board to lead the cable distribution business of the organisation.

RIL, which through a subsidiary company has a licence to operate as an MSO, had also brought in former Hathway Datacom chief executive K. Jayaraman to head its distribution business and Sharma reported into him.

As part of  Reliance Jio, Sharma and Jayaraman were entrusted to build a business plan for distribution of TV channels owned by Reliance that were managed under Network18 Media and Investments Ltd.

With an experience of more than 20 years in electronic media and cable distribution, Sharma is credited with playing a crucial role in building thw Sameer Manchanda-promoted Den Networks and Rahejas-owned Hathway.

RIL, which owns and controls the Network18 group that operates a clutch of TV channels, has widespread interest in media, telecom, petroleum and energy sectors.

Through its subsidiary TV18 Broadcast Limited, the group operates news channels CNBC-TV18, CNBC Awaaz, CNBC Bajar, CNBC-TV18 Prime HD, CNN-News18, IBN7, ETV channels, IBN-Lokmat (a Marathi regional news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group), apart from the newly-launched  FYI TV18.

TV18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18, which houses a portfolio of popular entertainment channels like Colors, Colors HD, Colors Infinity, Rishtey, MTV India, MTV Indies, Comedy Central, Vh1, Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr, Teen Nick and Viacom18 Motion Pictures.