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Co-lead or crown? Tussle for Omnicom–IPG leadership race in India heats up
Airtel names Shashwat Sharma as next MD & CEO; Gopal Vittal to move into exec vice chairman role
As the CEO designate, Shashwat Sharma will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business. Gopal Vittal will be responsible for mentoring and grooming Sharma to take over as MD & CEO of Bharti Airtel Ltd.
In preparation for this role, Shashwat Sharma is being appointed CEO designate of the company.
On January 1, 2026, Gopal Vittal will move into the role of Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd. Shashwat Sharma currently Chief Operation Officer, will be appointed MD & CEO of Bharti Airtel Ltd on January 1, 2026. In preparation for this role, he is being appointed CEO designate of the Company.
As the CEO designate, Sharma will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business. Vittal will be responsible for mentoring and grooming Sharma to take over as MD & CEO of Bharti Airtel Ltd. Gopal will start to spend time between Delhi and Bangalore. He will continue to travel extensively to ensure a structured transition and provide leadership and oversight across the group including overseas operations.
Vittal has led Bharti Airtel as Managing Director & CEO for the last twelve years. In this period, Airtel has built a winning portfolio of businesses across mobile, B2B, Home Broadband, DTH and digital services. Even in mobile, an intensely competitive space, Airtel has seen its revenue market share grow from 30% to 40%.
As part of a structured succession process, Vittal, in addition to being the Managing Director, is being appointed Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel Ltd.
In this role, while continuing to lead the India business, he will take on broader telecom responsibilities across the group. Gopal will be appointed to the Board of Airtel Africa Plc as the Bharti nominee director to provide strategic guidance. In addition, he will be responsible for driving group synergies in select areas such as Network strategy, digital & technology, procurement and talent.
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