Shashwat Sharma Promoted to Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel

Shashwat Sharma has been promoted to the role of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Bharti Airtel, effective January 1, 2026. Currently serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Shashwat will take on the role of CEO Designate in the interim, where he will oversee the company’s consumer business operations. This leadership transition, as detailed in an NSE filing, marks a significant step in Bharti Airtel’s structured succession planning.

As Shashwat takes on this new leadership role, Gopal Vittal, who has served as the MD and CEO for the past 12 years, has been elevated to Vice Chairman. In his new capacity, Gopal will continue leading the India business while assuming broader telecom responsibilities across the group.

Additionally, he will join the Board of Airtel Africa Plc as Bharti’s nominee director, offering strategic guidance and driving group synergies in network strategy, digital and technology, procurement, and talent.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, expressed his satisfaction with the succession plan, emphasizing Airtel’s focus on well-structured leadership transitions. He highlighted the balance between change and continuity, reinforcing Airtel’s reputation for empowering its management team to deliver exceptional results and drive growth in India’s dynamic telecom industry.