Bharti Airtel: Shashwat Sharma to be MD & CEO, Gopal Vittal as Executive Vice Chairman

Bharti Airtel has outlined a strategic succession plan for its leadership, reinforcing continuity and growth for the telecom giant. Gopal Vittal, who has led Bharti Airtel as Managing Director & CEO for the past 12 years, will step into the role of Vice Chairman while continuing as Managing Director. Under Vittal’s leadership, Airtel has evolved into a multifaceted telecom powerhouse with strong business segments across mobile, B2B, home broadband, DTH, and digital services. Notably, Airtel’s revenue market share in the competitive mobile sector has risen from 30% to 40%.

Key Achievements Under Vittal’s Leadership

Airtel has not only expanded its market share but also demonstrated a resilient organizational structure built on best-in-class talent, advanced digital capabilities, and a customer-centric approach. Airtel’s success is reflected in its impressive five-fold increase in market capitalization, now exceeding $100 billion, a testament to its robust performance in the capital markets.

Leadership Transition: Gopal Vittal’s New Role as Vice Chairman

As part of a structured succession plan, Gopal Vittal will assume additional responsibilities as Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd. In this expanded role, he will continue to lead Airtel’s India business and provide strategic guidance for Airtel Africa Plc as the Bharti nominee director. Vittal will focus on enhancing group synergies in areas such as network strategy, digital technology, procurement, and talent.

On January 1, 2026, Vittal will officially transition to the role of Executive Vice Chairman. He will work closely with Shashwat Sharma, who has been appointed as the CEO designate and will take over as Managing Director & CEO of Bharti Airtel Ltd in 2026. Sharma, currently the Chief Operating Officer, will oversee the consumer business end-to-end as he prepares for his new responsibilities under Vittal’s mentorship.

Remarks from Sunil Bharti Mittal

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, expressed his approval of the structured transition plan, stating, "Airtel, India’s foremost corporate entity, has had a distinguished record of well-thought-out succession planning. I am extremely pleased with the leadership transition plan at Airtel, where change and continuity will go hand in hand."

Additional Board Changes

In other board developments, Rakesh Bharti Mittal will conclude his nine-year tenure with Airtel and move on to serve on the boards of Indus Towers Limited and Bharti Hexacom Limited. Meanwhile, Rajan Bharti Mittal will rejoin the Airtel board as the Bharti Board nominee, effective immediately.

The succession plan reflects Bharti Airtel’s commitment to sustained growth and adaptability in the dynamic telecommunications sector, solidifying its position as a pioneering homegrown enterprise dedicated to delivering cutting-edge technology and services.