In a significant leadership transition, Bharti Airtel has announced a major reshuffle in its top management. Shashwat Sharma, the current Chief Operating Officer (COO), has been named the next Managing Director (MD) and CEO of the company, effective January 1, 2026.
The announcement comes as Gopal Vittal, who has helmed India’s second-largest telecom operator for the last 12 years, prepares to transition into a broader role within the group.
The Transition Plan
As part of a structured succession process, the following changes will take place:
- Shashwat Sharma as CEO-Designate: Effective immediately, Sharma has been appointed as the CEO-designate. In this preparatory role, he will be responsible for the entire end-to-end consumer business.
- Gopal Vittal’s New Role: Vittal will move into the role of Executive Vice Chairman on January 1, 2026. While he will continue to lead the India business during the transition, he will also take on broader responsibilities across the group, including a seat on the Board of Airtel Africa Plc.
- Mentorship: Gopal Vittal will spend the next year mentoring and grooming Shashwat Sharma to ensure a seamless handover of the leadership mantle.
Management Reshuffle: CFO Appointments
Alongside the CEO transition, Airtel announced other key administrative changes on December 18, 2025:
- Soumen Ray: Currently the CFO of Bharti Airtel India, Ray has been elevated to the position of Group CFO.
- Akhil Garg: Has been appointed as the new CFO of Bharti Airtel India.
- Board Changes: Rakesh Bharti Mittal will move to the boards of Indus Towers and Bharti Hexacom, while Rajan Bharti Mittal returns to the Airtel board as a nominee.
Sunil Mittal on the Succession
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal expressed immense confidence in the plan, stating that "change and continuity will go hand in hand." He praised Gopal Vittal for his stellar 12-year tenure, during which Airtel’s market capitalization grew five-fold to over $100 billion, and its revenue market share expanded from 30% to 40%.
Shashwat Sharma, an IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, joined Airtel in 2018 and has held various pivotal roles, including Chief Marketing Officer and CEO of the DTH business, before becoming COO in 2023.
