Bharti Airtel appoints Shashwat Sharma as new MD and CEO

It will be effective on 1 January 2026.

Bharti Airtel Ltd. has appointed COO Shashwat Sharma as the new managing director (MD) and CEO of the company effective on 1 January 2026, according to a bourse filing.

Shashwat will be succeeding Gopal Vittal, the current MD and CEO, who has led the company for 12 years.

As the CEO designate, Shashwat will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business, and Gopal will be responsible for mentoring Shashwat to take over as MD and CEO of the company.

Moreover, as part of the succession process, Gopal will transition to the position of Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel on 1 January 2026.

In this role, whilst continuing to lead the India business, he will take on broader telecom responsibilities across the group.

Gopal will be appointed to the board of Airtel Africa Plc as the Bharti nominee director to provide guidance.

In addition, he will be responsible for driving group synergies in select areas such as network strategy, digital and technology, procurement, and talent.

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Bharti Airtel

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