Bharti Airtel succession plan: Shashwat Sharma named MD & CEO; Gopal Vittal to be executive vice chairman

The board of directors of Indian multinational telecommunications giant Bharti Airtel, while approving changes in the company’s management on Thursday, December 18, 2025, appointed Gopal Vittal as executive vice president and Shashwat Sharma as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective January 1, 2026, according to a stock exchange filing.

In its BSE filing, the firm said that Vittal, who currently serves as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, will be the Deputy General Manager of the telecom giant for the next five years.

According to the official announcement, Shashwat Sharma, who was appointed as CEO in October 2024, will take over the management of the company from January 1, 2026.

The telecommunications major also appointed Soumen Ray as Group Chief Financial Officer and Rohit Krishan Puri as Company Secretary and Compliance Officer of Bharti Airtel.

“I am extremely pleased with the succession and transition of leadership at Airtel and it could not come at a better time when change and continuity go hand in hand. I have no doubt that both Gopal and Shashwat will continue to gain momentum and I wish them much success in their roles,” said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Airtel.