Bharti Airtel Appoints Shashwat Sharma as MD and CEO of Airtel India

Bharti Airtel, a leading telecommunications provider in India, has announced significant changes in its senior leadership team. Shashwat Sharma has been named the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Airtel India, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. This appointment follows his current role as CEO-designate and is subject to approval from shareholders.

The decision is part of a larger restructuring plan approved by Bharti Airtel's board during a meeting on December 18, 2025. This move is seen as a strategic step towards ensuring a seamless transition in leadership while maintaining continuity within the company.

In conjunction with Sharma's elevation, Gopal Vittal will transition to the role of Executive Vice Chairman. Vittal has been instrumental in leading Airtel for over thirteen years and will now focus on providing broader oversight for the company and its global subsidiaries. His responsibilities will include harmonising digital initiatives and optimising the group's infrastructure and talent pool.

The board's meeting also saw the approval of additional leadership changes. Soumen Ray, currently the Chief Financial Officer, has been promoted to Group Chief Financial Officer, while Akhil Garg will step in as the Chief Financial Officer for Airtel India. Rohit Krishan Puri has been appointed as the Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, effective from January 1, 2026.

Pankaj Tewari will continue to serve as the Group Company Secretary, offering oversight and leadership at the group level. The board meeting lasted for one hour, from 4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., during which these appointments were formally ratified.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Airtel, expressed his confidence in the newly appointed executives, stating, "I am extremely pleased with the succession and transition of leadership at Airtel. I have no doubt both Gopal and Shashwat will continue to build on the momentum, and I wish them much success in their roles." He highlighted the importance of a highly energised and professional management team in delivering top-tier technology and services to customers.

As Bharti Airtel embarks on this new chapter, the leadership changes aim to ensure that the company remains at the forefront of the telecommunications sector in India, continuing to serve its vast customer base effectively.