Bharti Airtel names Shashwat Sharma as MD and CEO

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Bharti Airtel Ltd’s board on Thursday approved a major leadership transition that will see Shashwat Sharma become managing director and chief executive officer from January 1, 2026, while current CEO Gopal Vittal shifts to a new strategic role. 

Sharma, currently CEO-designate and head of Airtel’s consumer business, has been appointed for a five-year term, subject to shareholder approval. He has spent the past year working closely with Vittal to prepare for the role.

“Shashwat Sharma is currently the CEO-Designate at Bharti Airtel, leads the Consumer Business for the Company. In addition, he has worked closely with the current CEO, Gopal Vittal, getting a deep understanding across all business and functions,” Airtel said in a stock exchange filing. “In his earlier roles, Shashwat has led the consumer business and has worked as Chief Operating Officer of Airtel responsible for all operations.”

As part of the transition, Vittal, who has led the company as managing director and CEO for 13 years, will take on the role of executive vice-chairman from January 1, 2026. In this position, he will oversee Airtel and its subsidiaries and focus on group level priorities.

“In his new role, besides oversight of the companies, Gopal will also be responsible for driving group synergies in the areas of digital and technology, network strategy, procurement and talent,” the company said. “He will also focus on Group strategy and future proofing the organization for the next evolution of its development.”

As part of the broader restructuring, Soumen Ray will become group chief financial officer (CFO), having served as Airtel India’s CFO for four years, and Akhil Garg, a 12-year company veteran and former finance head of Bharti Hexacom, will take over as CFO of Airtel India. 

Both Ray and Garg will assume their new roles from January 1, 2026.

In addition, Rohit Puri, currently joint company secretary and compliance officer, will be appointed company secretary and compliance officer of Bharti Airtel.

Commenting on the appointments, chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal said the changes reflect the company’s succession planning. “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,” Mittal said.

He added that the company would continue to rely on its management team as it navigates shifts in technology and telecom markets. 

“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,” Mittal said.