Shashwat Sharma To Succeed Gopal Vittal As MD and CEO Of Airtel

Siddharth Sharma, CEO of DTH, will take on the role of director of marketing and CEO of Connected Homes, while Pushpinder Gujral, CEO of Upper North, will become CEO and director of DTH

Bharti Airtel announced a significant leadership restructuring on Monday, introducing a new chief executive officer (CEO). Shashwat Sharma, the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), will step into the role of managing director (MD) and CEO, while Gopal Vittal, the current CEO, will transition to the position of vice-chairman starting January 1, 2026. Vittal has led the company for the past 12 years.

“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. 

For the next 14 months, Sharma will serve as the CEO designate of the company, which is the second-largest telecom operator in the country. “As the CEO designate, Shashwat will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business. Gopal Vittal will be responsible for mentoring and grooming Shashwat to take over,” the telecom company stated.

Company officials did not confirm whether the decision to appoint Sharma was made in anticipation of Vittal retiring. 

Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal praised the transition by highlighting Airtel's strong track record of strategic succession planning. “… 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 increased its revenue market share from 30 per cent to 40 per cent, while its market capitalisation has grown fivefold to surpass the $100 billion mark, according to the company.

Before joining Airtel, Vittal spent two decades at Hindustan Unilever, working across various categories and countries.

Airtel sources indicated that additional changes in senior leadership are forthcoming. Amit Tripathi, currently the marketing and customer experience director, will be appointed director of market operations, overseeing all circles and distribution strategy. 

Siddharth Sharma, CEO of DTH, will take on the role of director of marketing and CEO of Connected Homes, while Pushpinder Gujral, CEO of Upper North, will become CEO and director of DTH.