Bharti Airtel today said Shashwat Sharma, currently Chief Operation Officer, will become MD and CEO of Bharti Airtel on January 1, 2026.
Shashwat Sharma will be appointed CEO designate of the company with immediate effect. As the CEO designate, Shashwat Sharma will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business.
Gopal Vittal, the current CEO and MD, will become the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel till January 2026. Gopal Vittal will continue to lead the India business. Gopal Vittal will also be appointed to the Board of Airtel Africa as the Bharti nominee director to provide strategic guidance.
In addition, Gopal Vittal, who spent 12 years at Airtel, will be responsible for driving group synergies in select areas such as Network strategy, digital & technology, procurement and talent. On January 1, 2026, Gopal Vittal will move into the role of Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel.
Shashwat Sharma
Airtel website indicated that Shashwat Sharma, who joined Bharti Airtel in 2018 as Chief Brand Officer, has steadily advanced through leadership roles at the telecommunications giant. After being named Chief Marketing Officer in 2019, where he oversaw marketing for B2C, B2B, and corporate communications, Shashwat Sharma was elevated in July 2022 to the position of Director – Consumer Business, while also assuming the role of CEO of Airtel DTH.
Under his leadership, Shashwat Sharma has driven Airtel’s marketing and growth strategy, focusing on brand aspiration and innovative customer solutions. His leadership saw the development of the Airtel Thanks App, the customer-centric ‘Open to Questions’ campaign, and the launch of Airtel Black, all designed to enhance customer engagement and loyalty.
Airtel says these initiatives, alongside several industry-first innovations, reflect Airtel’s commitment to differentiation across its offerings, spanning mobility, broadband, enterprise, and digital services. His approach has played a pivotal role in boosting Airtel’s ARPU (Average Revenue Per User).
Shashwat Sharma’s background in consumer marketing includes his tenure at Hindustan Unilever Limited, where he managed brands like Dove, Lakme, and Lever Ayush, the company’s foray into ayurvedic products.
His academic credentials include a Post Graduate Program (PGP) from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and a B. Tech from the Delhi College of Engineering.
