Bharti Airtel has announced a significant leadership transition as part of a long-term, structured succession plan, with Gopal Vittal set to move into the role of Executive Vice Chairman from January 1, 2026, while Shashwat Sharma will succeed him as Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel India.

According to an Airtel organisation announcement, Vittal, who has led the company as Managing Director and CEO for the past 13 years, was appointed Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd in October 2024 to enable a smooth and deliberate transition. The move marks the next phase in the company’s leadership evolution, combining continuity with renewed strategic focus.

In his new role as Executive Vice Chairman, Vittal will oversee Bharti Airtel and all its subsidiaries. Beyond governance and oversight, he will be responsible for driving group-wide synergies across digital and technology initiatives, network strategy, procurement, and talent development. He will also focus on shaping the group’s long-term strategy and future-proofing the organisation as it prepares for the next phase of growth and transformation.

Following the planned transition, Shashwat Sharma will take charge as Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel India on January 1, 2026. As CEO designate over the past year, Sharma has worked closely with Vittal across the business, gaining deep exposure to operations, strategy and execution in preparation for the role. In his new position, Sharma will report to Vittal.

The leadership changes also extend to Airtel’s finance and governance teams. Soumen Ray, currently Chief Financial Officer for Bharti Airtel India, will be appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and will report to Vittal. Ray has been in his current role for nearly four years and has played a key role in steering the company’s financial performance during a period of sustained investment and growth.

Akhil Garg, presently Financial Controller at Bharti Airtel, will step into the role of Chief Financial Officer for Bharti Airtel India. Garg, who has been with the company for close to 12 years, has led several critical business initiatives, including the Hexacom IPO. In his new role, he will report to Shashwat Sharma and Soumen Ray.

On the corporate governance front, Rohit Puri, currently Joint Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, will be appointed 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, Bharti Airtel, said, “I am extremely pleased with the succession and transition of leadership at Airtel and there could not have been a better time, where change and continuity will go hand in hand. I have no doubt both Gopal and Shashwat will continue to build on the momentum and I wish them much success in their roles.

“As an organization we pride ourselves with our highly energised and professional management team, which combined with our entrepreneurial flair, brings to hundreds of millions of customers, the best technology and services across the geographies we operate. I look forward to working alongside Gopal and the team to continue this pursuit as we drive towards our ambition of building the best global Telcom company.”

The transition underlines Airtel’s focus on leadership continuity, operational stability and long-term strategic execution as it continues to strengthen its position in India and global markets.