Airtel creates separate unit for global business

Kapoor new CEO, Kohli to head International Business Group

The country’s largest mobile telephone service provider, Bharti Airtel, today announced creation of a separate International Business Group and appointed current CEO Manoj Kohli to head it.

The move came a day after Bharti announced it was buying a 70 per cent stake in Bangladesh’s Warid Telecom.

The International Business Group will be responsible for expanding the company’s operations beyond India and the South Asia region, Bharti Airtel said in a statement. Kohli will lead the new group as the CEO and MD and will continue to be a member of the Bharti Airtel board, the statement added.

The company also elevated Deputy CEO Sanjay Kapoor to the post of CEO, Bharti Airtel. Kapoor would lead the India and South Asia business of Bharti Airtel — mobile, telemedia and enterprise services and DTH. Both Kapoor and Kohli will report to Chairman and Managing Director Sunil Mittal.

The new organisation structure will be effective from April. The move is aimed at enhancing its focus on expanding operations in international markets beyond India and South Asia and to further consolidate its leadership position in India, the company said in a statement.

“The next phase of our journey is set to be another game changer — requiring superior thrust and focused leadership. We continue to win in the Indian telecom market, which is going through a phase of hyper competition.

At the same time, we will be developing comprehensive plans for our journey to cover emerging markets beyond India and South Asia,” Chairman and MD Sunil Mittal said. “Bharti Airtel is one of the finest management teams in the country and a strong leadership pipeline. This structure will leverage our management depth and build a strong platform for fulfilling our global vision,” he added.