Bharti Airtel has announced a major leadership transition as part of a planned and structured succession process, marking a new phase for one of India’s largest telecom companies.
Gopal Vittal, who has led Bharti Airtel as Managing Director and CEO for the past thirteen years, will move into the role of Executive Vice Chairman on January 1, 2026. Vittal was appointed Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd in October 2024 and will now oversee Airtel and all its subsidiaries in his expanded role.
As Executive Vice Chairman, Vittal will focus on driving group-level synergies across digital and technology initiatives, network strategy, procurement, and talent development. He will also lead group strategy and work towards future-proofing the organisation as it prepares for the next phase of growth and evolution.
Following this transition, Shashwat Sharma will take over as Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel India from January 1, 2026. Sharma, who was appointed CEO designate earlier, has spent the past year working closely with Vittal across various aspects of the business to ensure a smooth handover. In his new role, Sharma will report to Vittal.
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Leadership reshuffled
Soumen Ray, currently the Chief Financial Officer of Bharti Airtel India, will be elevated to the position of Group Chief Financial Officer and will report to Vittal. Ray has served in his current role for nearly four years and has played a significant role in strengthening Airtel’s financial performance.
Akhil Garg, presently the Financial Controller at Bharti Airtel, will take over as CFO of Bharti Airtel India. Garg has been with the company for close to twelve years and has led several major initiatives, including the Hexacom IPO. He will report to both Shashwat Sharma and Soumen Ray.
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Additionally, Rohit Puri will be appointed Company Secretary and Compliance Officer for Bharti Airtel, while Group Company Secretary Pankaj Tewari will continue to provide oversight at the group level.
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said the transition reflects a balance of continuity and change, expressing confidence that the leadership team will continue to build on the company’s momentum as it works towards becoming a leading global telecom company.
