365telugu.com online news,December 19,2025: In a major strategic realignment, Bharti Airtel announced on Thursday a series of high-level leadership transitions designed to “future-proof” the telecommunications giant. The changes, effective January 1, 2026, will see long-time Managing Director and CEO Gopal Vittal elevate to the role of Executive Vice Chairman, while Shashwat Sharma will officially succeed him as the company’s MD and CEO.
The move marks the culmination of a multi-year succession plan aimed at balancing continuity with fresh leadership.
A Shift in Power at the Top
Gopal Vittal, who has steered the company for thirteen years, will transition into a broader group-wide role. As Executive Vice Chairman, Vittal will oversee all Bharti Airtel subsidiaries and spearhead group-level synergies in high-impact areas, including:
Digital and Network Strategy
Procurement and Talent Management
Long-term Group Evolution
Shashwat Sharma, currently the CEO designate, will assume the mantle of MD and CEO of Airtel India. Sharma has spent the last year working closely with Vittal to ensure a seamless handover. In a notable reporting structure change, Sharma will report directly to Vittal.
Strategic Financial Appointments
The leadership shuffle extends deep into the company’s financial and administrative core:
| Appointee | New Role | Previous Role | Reporting To |
| Soumen Ray | Group CFO | CFO, Airtel India | Gopal Vittal |
| Akhil Garg | CFO, Airtel India | Financial Controller | Shashwat Sharma & Soumen Ray |
| Rohit Puri | Company Secretary | Joint Company Secretary | — |
Pankaj Tewari will remain in his position as Group Company Secretary, providing oversight at the group level.
“Change and Continuity”
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Bharti Airtel, expressed high confidence in the new leadership structure, noting that the transition comes at an ideal time for the company.
“I am extremely pleased with the succession… where change and continuity will go hand in hand,” Mittal stated. “I have no doubt both Gopal and Shashwat will continue to build on the momentum as we drive towards our ambition of building the best global telecom company.”
The restructuring signals Airtel’s intent to shift from a traditional telecom provider to a tech-driven global entity, leaning on Vittal’s experience for strategy while allowing Sharma to lead India’s operational execution.