Kolkata: Gopal Vittal, Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, has been re-elected as Chair of the GSMA Board of Directors for the 2027-2028 term, extending his leadership of the global mobile industry body until December 2028.
The decision was taken by the GSMA Board, which also announced the appointment of Vodafone Group CEO Margherita Della Valle as co-Deputy Chair. MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita has been re-elected to continue in the same position. Both will serve as co-Deputy Chairs until the end of 2028.
Vittal has been associated with the GSMA Board for the past 10 years and has served as its Chair since 2025. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing the organisation’s strategic direction and representing the interests of mobile operators and companies across the global mobile ecosystem.
Security and AI to Remain Key Industry Priorities
Following his re-election, Vittal highlighted the growing importance of advanced telecom networks, artificial intelligence (AI) and open digital platforms in shaping the future of the global economy.
He identified security as the industry’s foremost priority, pointing to three key areas: protecting nations against emerging threats, safeguarding customers from the growing menace of digital scams, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the telecom industry.
He also stressed the need for continued investment in technology and infrastructure to strengthen connectivity across different parts of the world.
Vittal currently oversees Bharti Airtel and its subsidiaries, driving the group’s strategy across digital services, technology, network development, procurement and talent management. He also serves as Non-Executive Chair of Airtel Africa and Airtel Payments Bank, besides being a Non-Executive Director on the BT Group Board.
Under his leadership, Airtel has expanded its presence across mobile services, homes, enterprise solutions and digital platforms, strengthening its position in India’s highly competitive telecom market.
Ralph Mupita and Margherita Della Valle Take Key Roles
Ralph Mupita has been leading MTN Group as President and CEO since September 2020. Before taking over the top position, he served as the company’s Group Chief Financial Officer. He became a GSMA Deputy Chair in April 2025.
Mupita is also associated with the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and the ITU’s AI for Good Global Commission. At MTN, he is leading the company’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which focuses on expanding connectivity, fintech services and digital infrastructure opportunities across Africa.
Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group, joins him as the newly elected co-Deputy Chair. She took over as Vodafone’s Chief Executive Officer in January 2023, having previously served as the company’s Group Chief Financial Officer since 2018.
During her tenure, Della Valle has led Vodafone’s efforts to simplify its operations and strengthen its business structure.
The new leadership team will guide the GSMA through the 2027-2028 term at a time when the telecommunications sector is witnessing rapid changes driven by artificial intelligence, next-generation networks, digital services and growing cybersecurity challenges.
