Airtel executive elected GSMA board chairman

Airtel’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Gopal Vittal, has been elected as the Chairman of the GSMA Board, the global body representing mobile network operators, according to a statement on Wednesday.

Vittal, who is currently the acting chair of the GSMA Board, will now serve as chairman until the end of 2026. His appointment marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the second Indian to hold the position after Sunil Bharti Mittal, Airtel’s founder and chairman.

The GSMA represents over 1,000 telecom companies worldwide, including mobile network operators, device manufacturers, software developers, and internet firms.

As chairman, Vittal will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which plays a crucial role in shaping the future of the mobile industry.

Reacting to his appointment, Vittal expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead the GSMA Board. “I am honoured to be elected as the Chairman of the GSMA Board. The mobile industry contributed $6.5 trn to the global economy in 2024 and is the spine on which much of the innovation in the world is built,” he said.

The Director-General of the GSMA, Mats Granryd, commented, “I have worked with Mr Vittal for many years and am delighted that he has been appointed Chair of the GSMA Board.

“His knowledge and experience make him very well positioned to lead the board and the industry through the current challenges and opportunities, including how to leverage AI and complete 5G for new business models and revenue streams.”

Gopal has served on the GSMA Board in different capacities for over a decade, including as Deputy Chair for the last three years.

Most recently, he was also appointed the acting chair of the GSMA Board in early 2025 and has now been formally elected as the chairman.

Gopal will serve as the chairman of the board until the end of 2026. The GSMA Board will announce the election of a new deputy chair in due course.

Gopal Vittal is currently the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel and is also a board member of Bharti Airtel Limited, Airtel Africa PLC and Indus Towers. Prior to this, he was the Managing Director & CEO of Airtel for 12 years.