Shashwat Sharma to take over as MD, CEO of Airtel; Vittal named vice-chair

Gopal Vittal elevated to Bharti Airtel vice chairman, will remain MD

Bharti Airtel on Monday announced a top-level recast including a new chief executive officer (CEO). Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shashwat Sharma will take charge as the next managing director (MD) and CEO while incumbent Gopal Vittal has been named vice-chairman from January 1, 2026.

 

Vittal has been at the helm for the past 12 years.

 

“As part of a structured succession process, Gopal, in addition to being the Managing Director, is being appointed Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd. Gopal will be appointed to the Board of Airtel Africa Plc as the Bharti nominee director to provide strategic guidance,” Airtel informed the exchanges after its board meeting on Monday.

 

 

For the next 14 months, Sharma will be CEO designate of the company, the second-largest telecom operator of the country said. “As the CEO designate, Shashwat will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business. Gopal Vittal will be responsible for mentoring and grooming Shashwat to take over,” the telco said.

 

Company officials didn’t confirm if the move to bring in Sharma, 43, was made in anticipation of Vittal, 58, retiring.

 

Stressing that Airtel has had a distinguished record of well-thought-out structured succession planning, Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal lauded the move.

 

“… There could not have been a better time for Airtel to unveil the new arrangement where change and continuity will go hand in hand,” he said.

 

Under Vittal’s leadership, Airtel has seen its revenue market share grow to 40 per cent, from 30 per cent earlier, and market capitalisation rose fivefold to cross the $100 billion mark, the company said.

 

Prior to Airtel, Vittal had worked for Hindustan Unilever across categories and countries for two decades.

 

Airtel sources said the company would see other changes in senior leadership. Amit Tripathi, director, marketing and customer experience, will be appointed director, market operations, leading all circles and distribution strategy.

 

Siddharth Sharma, CEO, DTH, will be appointed director, marketing, and CEO, Connected Homes, while Pushpinder Gujral, CEO, Upper North, will be CEO and director, DTH, they said.