Gopal Vittal to become Executive Vice Chairman, Shashwat Sharma to succeed him as MD & CEO in Jan

Srinagar : Gopal Vittal has served as the Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel for thirteen years and has recently been appointed Vice Chairman as part of a structured succession plan.
Effective January 1, 2026, he will transition to the role of Executive Vice Chairman, where he will oversee Bharti Airtel and its subsidiaries, focusing on group synergies in digital technology, network strategy, procurement, and talent management, while also shaping the organization’s future strategy. Shashwat Sharma has been designated as the CEO designate and will succeed Gopal as Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel India on the same date. Over the past year, Shashwat has collaborated closely with Gopal to prepare for his new role and will report directly to him. Additionally, Soumen Ray, the current Chief Financial Officer for Bharti Airtel India, will take on the role of Group Chief Financial Officer, while Akhil Garg, the Financial Controller, will become the Chief Financial Officer for Bharti Airtel India, reporting to both Shashwat and Soumen. Rohit Puri will be appointed as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer for Bharti Airtel, with Pankaj Tewari continuing to lead at the group level. Sunil Bharti Mittal, the Chairman of Bharti Airtel, expressed confidence in the leadership transition, emphasizing the importance of continuity and change, and wishing success to both Gopal and Shashwat in their new roles.