Bharti Airtel has detailed the final phase of its structured leadership succession plan, which is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The transition involves key appointments across the executive board, marking a significant shift in the company’s management structure as it prepares for its next phase of growth.
Gopal Vittal Elevated to Executive Vice Chairman
After leading Bharti Airtel as Managing Director and CEO for thirteen years, Gopal Vittal will transition into the role of Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel. In this capacity, Vittal will oversee the parent company and all its subsidiaries.
His new mandate focuses on high-level group strategy and “future-proofing” the organization. His responsibilities will include:
- Driving Group Synergies: Aligning digital and technology initiatives across business units.
- Network Strategy & Procurement: Streamlining infrastructure and resource acquisition.
- Talent Management: Overseeing leadership development and organizational evolution.
Shashwat Sharma Appointed MD and CEO (India)
Following a year-long transition period as CEO Designate, Shashwat Sharma will officially succeed Vittal as the Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel India on January 1, 2026.
Sharma has spent the last twelve months working closely with Vittal to ensure a seamless handover of operations. In his new capacity, Sharma will report directly to Gopal Vittal.
Financial Leadership Realignment
Alongside the top executive changes, Bharti Airtel has announced a restructuring of its financial leadership to support the new group hierarchy.
| Executive | New Role (Effective Jan 1, 2026) | Reporting To |
| Soumen Ray | Group Chief Financial Officer | Gopal Vittal |
| Akhil Garg | CFO, Bharti Airtel India | Shashwat Sharma & Soumen Ray |
Soumen Ray, who has served as the India CFO for four years, will now take on a broader group-level role. Akhil Garg, a twelve-year veteran of the company who recently played a pivotal role in the Hexacom IPO, will step up from his current position as Financial Controller to lead the India finance division.
These appointments are the culmination of a process that began in October 2024. The company has emphasized that this phased approach was designed to maintain stability while injecting new leadership into its core Indian operations. By elevating internal talent like Sharma and Garg, Bharti Airtel aims to ensure continuity in its operational strategy and financial performance.
Regarding this, 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 telecom company.