Airtel MD Gopal Vittal to take on some key roles from Sunil Mittal; says no intention to leave Bharti Group

Gopal Vittal has already assumed the managing director and vice chairman role, with responsibilities for mentoring Sharma.

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26 Aug, 2025 12:21

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Bharti Airtel’s Managing Director, Gopal Vittal, said he would take on some of Sunil Mittal's roles across the group to drive synergy on digital procurement, talent, and network strategy besides overseeing growth areas, including financial service and data centres. He also clarified that he will continue to work with Bharti Group and is not exploring any role outside of it.

Starting January 2026, current CEO Gopal Vittal will assume the role of Executive Vice Chairman, while current COO Shashwat Sharma will step in as CEO.

Vittal has already assumed the managing director and vice chairman role, with responsibilities for mentoring Sharma.

During the Q2 earnings call on October 29, the top executive said he would also provide broader oversight across our overseas operations, including the African operations. “India is ahead of Africa, and we need to ensure that Africa reaches the same level. We have already begun the process over the last four quarters. We have a tech committee discussion every quarter with the Africa team.”

Vittal will also work on scaling the telco’s incubation and growth areas, including digital services, financial services, and data centres. “These are some areas I will look at in addition to overseeing our operations in the group.”

“I'm fully committed to the Bharti Group, and I have no intention of taking on anything outside the group,” Vittal added.

Analysts noted that Bharti Airtel's planned restructuring and leadership change are unlikely to be "very disruptive" and will be backed by the telco’s strong credentials, as the peak of competitive intensity has passed.

Effective immediately, Sharma, as CEO designate, will oversee the consumer business, including mobility, home, and DTH, while Vittal will continue managing enterprise and HR functions. When Sharma officially becomes CEO in January 2026, he will take charge of both consumer and enterprise operations.