Bharti Airtel has announced a major change in its top leadership. Shashwat Sharma will take over as Managing Director and CEO of Airtel India starting January 1, 2026. He will lead the company for a five-year term.
Sharma has been preparing for this role over the past year, working closely with the current CEO to ensure a smooth transition.
Gopal Vittal, the current CEO, will move to a new role as Executive Vice Chairman. In this role, he will focus on strategy, technology, networks, procurement, talent development, and overseeing Airtel’s group operations.
The company said these changes are part of a planned succession process to maintain leadership continuity and support Airtel’s growth in India’s competitive telecom market.
Other key appointments include Soumen Ray as Group Chief Financial Officer and Rohit Krishan Puri as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, both starting January 1, 2026.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Airtel’s Chairman, welcomed the leadership changes and expressed confidence that the new team will guide the company to future success.
Also Read: Reliance Consumer acquires majority stake in Udhaiyams Agro Foods