New Delhi, March 25 Airtel Africa announced on Wednesday that Sunil Bharti Mittal will retire as Chairman of the board at the conclusion of the company's AGM in July 2026.
Gopal Vittal has been appointed as the Non-Executive Chairman, effective from the same date, while Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of Deputy Chair.
Shravin Mittal's appointment as Deputy Chair will ensure continuity with the founding family and a major shareholder in Airtel Africa, which provides telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries across Africa.
"Sunil Bharti Mittal has informed the Board of his intention to retire as Chair of the Board at the conclusion of this year's AGM in July 2026," the statement said.
Mittal has served as Chair since the company's listing in 2019, Airtel Africa said, adding that the "board thanks him for his leadership and contribution during this period".
Airtel Africa further stated that Vittal's appointment is by nomination of the controlling shareholder pursuant to the terms of the relationship agreement dated June 17, 2019 between the company, Bharti Airtel, Airtel Africa Mauritius Ltd, the majority shareholder and an indirect subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, and Bharti Telecom.
Vittal is a well-established telecom leader who led Bharti Airtel to a record-high market share in a highly competitive market, and is the current Board Chair of the GSMA.
He was appointed as a non-executive director of Airtel Africa in October 2024.
"The Board acknowledges that Vittal will not be independent on appointment for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code," the statement added.
Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of Deputy Chair, effective from the same date, it said.
"As Deputy Chair, Mr. Mittal will ensure continuity with the founding family and major shareholder, and will be the Board's conduit with the Airtel Money Board, on which he serves, and with Airtel Africa's headquarters in Dubai, where he is based," according to the statement.
As part of the ongoing succession planning for the company's Non-Executive Directors, Annika Poutiainen will also retire at the conclusion of the July AGM, after serving for over seven years.
Sunil Mittal thanked the board of Airtel Africa for all its support and noted that the company has a "strong strategy and an outstanding leadership team in place, the strength of which is evident in recent results".
"Therefore, I am confident that now is the right time for me to step down as Chair. It has been an honor to lead Airtel Africa in this capacity, and I know the company will continue to prosper and to advance the transformative power of connectivity to the millions of customers we serve across 14 African countries," the telecom industry veteran said.
Mittal further stated that he will be available to support the company as requested by the Chair.