Airtel Africa PLC has announced that its founding chair, Sunil Bharti Mittal, will retire from the board in July 2026.
Gopal Vittal, the current managing director and CEO of Bharti Airtel, will succeed him as the next chair of the pan-African telecommunications group. The transition will take place following the conclusion of the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) later this year.
The leadership change marks a pivotal moment for the operator, which serves over 140 million customers across 14 African markets. Sunil Mittal, who has led the board since 2019, overseen a period where the company reached record revenue market shares despite aggressive competition from rivals like MTN and M-Pesa.
While stepping down from the chair position, Mittal indicated he would remain available to support the company in an advisory capacity as requested by the new leadership.
In a move designed to maintain stability and ties with the founding family, Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of deputy chair starting in July 2026. Shravin currently serves on the board of Airtel Money, the group’s rapidly expanding mobile financial services wing. Based in Dubai, he is expected to act as a primary link between the group’s headquarters and its various regional boards.
The appointment of Shravin Mittal is intended to ensure long-term continuity for significant shareholders. His dual involvement in the core telco business and the fintech side suggests a tighter integration of Airtel Money into the group’s broader African strategy. This is particularly relevant as the company continues to navigate shifting digital tax policies and mobile money regulations in key markets like Kenya and Nigeria.
Gopal Vittal enters the role with a reputation for driving operational efficiency and high-value subscriber growth in the Indian market. His transition to the chair of Airtel Africa indicates a focus on scaling the group’s digital infrastructure. Under Vittal’s guidance, the board is expected to prioritize 5G rollout and the expansion of data services to counter falling voice revenues.
Airtel Africa remains a major player in the continent’s digital economy, managing complex infrastructure and regulatory environments. With Vittal at the helm, the company will likely lean further into technical precision and ecosystem integration to maintain its competitive edge against dominant local players.
