Kolkata: Bharti Airtel Ltd. has announced a series of senior leadership appointments as part of its structured succession plan, marking a significant transition at the helm of one of India’s leading telecom companies.
After successfully leading Bharti Airtel as Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer for the past thirteen years, Gopal Vittal will assume the role of Executive Vice Chairman with effect from January 1, 2026. Vittal was appointed Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd. in October 2024, in addition to his responsibilities as MD & CEO, as part of the planned transition.
In his new role, Gopal Vittal will oversee Bharti Airtel and all its subsidiaries. Beyond governance and oversight, he will drive group-wide synergies across key areas including digital and technology, network strategy, procurement, and talent management. He will also lead Group strategy initiatives, focusing on future-proofing the organization for its next phase of growth.
Following a comprehensive and well-executed transition process, Shashwat Sharma, currently CEO Designate, will succeed Vittal as Managing Director & CEO, Bharti Airtel India, effective January 1, 2026. Over the past twelve months, Sharma has worked closely with Vittal across all business verticals to ensure a seamless handover. In his new role, Shashwat Sharma will report to Gopal Vittal.
In further leadership changes, Soumen Ray, currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Bharti Airtel India, will be elevated to the position of Group Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Gopal Vittal. Ray has served in his current role for nearly four years and has played a key role in strengthening Airtel’s financial performance.
Meanwhile, Akhil Garg, presently Financial Controller at Bharti Airtel, will take over as Chief Financial Officer, Bharti Airtel India. A seasoned leader with nearly 12 years at Airtel, Garg has led several critical initiatives, including the successful Hexacom IPO. In his new role, he will report to Shashwat Sharma and Soumen Ray.
Additionally, Rohit Puri, currently Joint Company Secretary & Compliance Officer, will be appointed Company Secretary & Compliance Officer, Bharti Airtel. Pankaj Tewari, Group Company Secretary, will continue to provide leadership and oversight at the group level.
Commenting on the leadership transition, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Airtel, said:
“I am extremely pleased with the succession and transition of leadership at Airtel, and there could not have been a better time where change and continuity go hand in hand. I have no doubt that both Gopal and Shashwat will continue to build on the momentum, and I wish them every success in their roles.
As an organization, we take pride in our highly energized and professional management team which, combined with our entrepreneurial flair, delivers the best technology and services to hundreds of millions of customers across our operating geographies. I look forward to working alongside Gopal and the team as we continue our pursuit of building the best global telecom company.”
