Gopal Vittal elevated to Chairman of GSMA Board of Directors

The GSMA Board of Directors has elevated Gopal Vittal to the position of Chairman for the remainder of the Board term, until the end of 2026. Vittal, who has been a part of the GSMA Board for eight years, previously served as Deputy Chairman since 2023 and was most recently Acting Chairman of the GSMA Board since mid-January 2025.

As Chairman of GSMA, Gopal Vittal will provide strategic leadership to the organization, which represents the world’s mobile network operators and companies across the broader mobile ecosystem. His focus will be on driving the transition to 5G Standalone, developing new revenue models, and leveraging AI and the GSMA Open Gateway initiative. The GSMA Open Gateway, which enables mobile operators to use open network APIs, now has participation from companies representing nearly 80% of global mobile connections.

Gopal Vittal currently serves as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel Group, where he oversees operations across Bharti Airtel Limited, Airtel Africa PLC, and Indus Towers. Under his leadership over the past 12 years, Bharti Airtel has strengthened its portfolio across Mobile, B2B, Home, and Digital services, achieving record-high revenue market share in an intensely competitive industry. Bharti Airtel has also built a robust foundation of digital capabilities and world-class talent, contributing to a fivefold increase in its market capitalization to over $100 billion.

Before joining Bharti Airtel, Gopal Vittal spent over two decades at Hindustan Unilever, where he held key leadership roles in sales, marketing, and general management. As a Board Member of Hindustan Unilever, he was instrumental in transforming the Home and Personal Care division, increasing its growth rate from 5% to 15%.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Gopal Vittal stated, “I am honored to be elevated as the Chairman of the GSMA Board. The mobile industry contributed $6.5 trillion to the global economy in 2024 and continues to be a driving force behind global innovation. GSMA plays a vital role in unifying the mobile ecosystem and fostering impactful advancements. I look forward to working with GSMA and the Board to continue shaping the future of this industry.”

Mats Granryd, Director General of GSMA, welcomed Vittal’s appointment, saying, “I have worked with Gopal Vittal for many years and am delighted that he has been elevated to Chairman of the GSMA Board. His deep expertise and leadership make him the ideal choice to steer the Board and the industry through key challenges and opportunities, including harnessing AI and completing the transition to 5G for new business models and revenue streams.”

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