Bharti Airtel Names Shashwat Sharma As MD & CEO, Gopal Vittal To Become Executive Vice Chairman

Telecom major Bharti Airtel has revealed that Shashwat Sharma, currently chief operating officer, will become its new managing director and CEO effective 1 January 2026. The move is part of a structured succession plan, under which the telco's current MD and CEO, Gopal Vittal, will transition into the role of executive vice chairman on the same date.

In the lead-up to his new role, Sharma has been appointed as CEO designate, tasked with overseeing Airtel's entire consumer business. Vittal will guide and mentor Sharma through this period to ensure a smooth transition in leadership. “Gopal Vittal has led Airtel for the last twelve years, significantly enhancing the company's portfolio and strengthening its market position,” said Bharti Airtel in a regulatory filing. Under Vittal’s leadership, Airtel’s revenue market share in the competitive mobile segment has grown from 30 per cent to 40 per cent, and the company’s market capitalisation has surged fivefold to exceed USD 100 billion.

As part of his expanded remit, Vittal will also join the Board of Airtel Africa Plc and lead group-level initiatives, focusing on synergies in network strategy, technology, procurement, and talent. He will split his time between Delhi and Bangalore while continuing to oversee international operations.

This leadership update comes as Airtel reports a robust 168 per cent increase in its consolidated net profit to Rs 3,593 crore for the July-September quarter, driven by its first tariff hike in over two years. Airtel credits its strong financial performance and organisational resilience to Vittal’s emphasis on customer focus and digital capabilities embedded within the company’s talent pool.