In a significant leadership transition, Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic restructuring that will see Shashwat Sharma, the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), step into the role of Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on January 1, 2026. Sharma’s appointment highlights Airtel’s commitment to leveraging his operational expertise to guide the company into its next growth phase.
As part of this executive reshuffle, Gopal Vittal, who has been instrumental in leading Airtel for over a decade, will transition from his current CEO role to assume the position of Vice-Chairman. Vittal’s leadership has been pivotal in Airtel’s journey, navigating industry shifts and driving innovation. His move to Vice-Chairman ensures continued strategic oversight and guidance at a critical time for the company’s ambitions in digital transformation and telecommunications leadership.
Airtel’s leadership change underscores its vision for sustainable growth and resilience in an increasingly competitive telecom landscape, where a seamless transition of leadership and sustained strategic direction are key to staying ahead.
“As part of a structured succession process, Gopal, in addition to being the Managing Director, is being appointed Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd. Gopal will be appointed to the Board of Airtel Africa Plc as the Bharti nominee director to provide strategic guidance,” Airtel informed the exchanges after its board meeting on Monday.
Over the next 14 months, Shashwat Sharma will serve as CEO Designate for Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator. In this role, Sharma will oversee the entire end-to-end consumer business, with Gopal Vittal guiding and mentoring him to ensure a smooth leadership transition, according to Airtel.
Company representatives did not confirm if Sharma’s appointment at age 43 was related to a possible retirement plan for Vittal, who is currently 58.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Airtel’s Chairman, emphasized the company’s legacy of deliberate and structured succession planning, praising the strategic move as part of Airtel’s commitment to strong, future-ready leadership.
“There could not have been a better time for Airtel to unveil the new arrangement where change and continuity will go hand in hand,” he said.
Under Vittal’s leadership, Airtel has seen its revenue market share grow to 40 per cent, from 30 per cent earlier, and market capitalisation rose fivefold to cross the $100 billion mark, the company said.
Prior to Airtel, Vittal had worked for Hindustan Unilever across categories and countries for two decades. Airtel sources said the company would see other changes in senior leadership. Amit Tripathi, director, marketing and customer experience, will be appointed director, market operations, leading all circles and distribution strategy.
Siddharth Sharma, CEO, DTH, will be appointed director, marketing, and CEO, Connected Homes, while Pushpinder Gujral, CEO, Upper North, will be CEO and director, DTH, they said.
