Bharti Airtel’s board gave the final nod to changes to the company’s top team announced in 2024, which will see Gopal Vittal take the role of executive vice chair and Shashwat Sharma lead its India operation from the start of 2026.

Vittal is currently MD and vice chair, the latter responsibility he assumed in October 2024 when the company announced what it described as a structured succession process.

He was previously MD and CEO, leading the company’s operations in India for more than a decade.

In its statement confirming final details of the upcoming change, the company explained Vittal would now oversee Bharti Airtel and its subsidiaries, while also being “responsible for driving group synergies in the areas of digital and technology, network strategy, procurement and talent”.

The executive is also charged with group strategy and “futureproofing the organisation for the next evolution of its development”.

Sharma is to become CEO and MD of Bharti Airtel India after spending more than a year as CEO designate, working alongside Vittal to prepare for the handover.    

Another upcoming change at the company involves the CFO of its India operation, Soumen Ray, moving to lead the financial office at group level.

Ray’s old job will be taken by financial controller Akhil Garg.