Bharti Airtel has announced a significant leadership transition as part of its structured succession plan, appointing Shashwat Sharma as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bharti Airtel India, effective 1 January 2026. The move marks the culmination of a carefully planned transition after more than thirteen years of leadership by Gopal Vittal.
Gopal Vittal, who has led Bharti Airtel as Managing Director and CEO for over a decade, was appointed Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd in October 2024 as part of the succession roadmap. In line with this plan, Vittal will assume the role of Executive Vice Chairman on 1 January 2026, with oversight of Bharti Airtel and all its subsidiaries.
In his new role, Gopal Vittal will focus on driving group-level synergies across digital and technology initiatives, network strategy, procurement, and talent development. He will also play a central role in shaping group strategy and future-proofing the organization to support its next phase of growth and evolution.
Following a year-long transition process, Shashwat Sharma will succeed Vittal as MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel India. As CEO designate, Sharma has spent the past twelve months working closely with Vittal across business functions to ensure continuity and preparedness for the role. After assuming office, Sharma will report to Gopal Vittal in his capacity as Executive Vice Chairman.
The leadership transition also includes key finance and governance appointments. Soumen Ray, currently Chief Financial Officer of Bharti Airtel India, will be elevated to the role of Group Chief Financial Officer, reporting to Gopal Vittal. Ray has spent around four years in his current position and has played a pivotal role in strengthening Airtel’s financial performance.
Akhil Garg, presently Financial Controller at Bharti Airtel, will be appointed Chief Financial Officer for Bharti Airtel India. With nearly twelve years at Airtel, Garg has led several strategic initiatives, including the Hexacom IPO. In his new role, he will report to Shashwat Sharma and Soumen Ray.
In the area of corporate governance, Rohit Puri, currently Joint Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, will take over as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer for Bharti Airtel. Pankaj Tewari will continue in his role as Group Company Secretary, providing leadership and oversight at the group level.
Commenting on the transition, Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, said he was extremely pleased with the succession and leadership transition, noting that it balances change with continuity at a crucial time for the company. He expressed confidence that both Gopal Vittal and Shashwat Sharma will continue to build on Airtel’s momentum and drive its long-term ambitions.
Sunil Mittal added that Airtel’s energized and professional management team, combined with its entrepreneurial culture, enables the company to deliver advanced technology and services to hundreds of millions of customers across its operating geographies. He reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with the leadership team to advance Airtel’s goal of becoming the best global telecom company.