Airtel Africa announces major leadership transition as founder Sunil Bharti Mittal steps down

Airtel Africa Plc, the London-listed telecoms group operating mobile and money services across 14 African countries, announced on Wednesday that its chair, Sunil Bharti Mittal, will step down in July and be succeeded by Gopal Vittal, industry veteran and GSMA chair.

The changes, effective at the conclusion of the company’s annual general meeting in July 2026, form part of a broader board succession plan designed to ensure governance continuity and long-term leadership stability as the business scales its telecom and mobile-money operations.

Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, has chaired Airtel Africa since its listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2019. He steered the company through its journey from the 2010 acquisition phase to its current position as a FTSE 100 constituent, overseeing expansion across the continent.

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In a statement, Mittal said: “It has been an honour to lead Airtel Africa in this capacity. Airtel Africa has a solid strategy and an outstanding leadership team in place, the strength of which is evident in recent results, so I am confident that now is the time for me to step aside as Chair.”

He added that the company will continue to prosper and advance the transformative power of connectivity to millions of customers across 14 African countries and offered to remain available to support the business if required.

Gopal Vittal will become non-executive chair from July. He currently serves as executive vice-chairman of Bharti Airtel and chair of the GSMA board. Vittal joined Airtel Africa’s board as a non-executive director in October 2024 and brings deep telecom expertise after leading Bharti Airtel to record revenue market share in India’s competitive market.

His appointment was made by nomination of the controlling shareholder under the terms of the 2019 relationship agreement between Airtel Africa, Bharti Airtel, Airtel Africa Mauritius Limited and Bharti Telecom. The board noted that Vittal will not be considered independent on appointment under the UK Corporate Governance Code.

The London-listed company also said that Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of deputy chair from July. In the position, he will act as the significant shareholder representative and serve as the board’s conduit with the Airtel Money board, of which he is a member, and with Airtel Africa’s headquarters in Dubai, where he is based.

As part of the same succession planning, non-executive director Annika Poutiainen will retire at the July AGM after more than seven years of service.

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Senior independent director Tsega Gebreyes praised Mittal as a titan of the global telecommunications industry for guiding the company through its key milestones.

Meanwhile, Airtel Africa shares (AAF.L) closed Tuesday at 361.00 pence, up 1.8 percent.