Gopal Vittal appointed as new Chairman of GSMA board

The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) Board of Directors has elected Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, as its new Chairman. He will serve in this capacity until the end of 2026.

He was appointed as acting Chair of the GSMA board last month, following the resignation of José Maria Álvares-Pallete, former Chairman and CEO of Telefónica. Mr. Vittal has been a member of the GSMA Board for over a decade, holding various positions, including Deputy Chair for the past three years.

In his role as Chairman, Mr. Vittal will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the GSMA. The GSMA represents over 1,000 mobile operators worldwide, as well as handset and device manufacturers, software companies, equipment providers, internet companies, and organizations from related industries.

This appointment marks Mr. Vittal as the second individual from India, after Sunil Bharti Mittal, to hold the position of GSMA Board Chairman. It also reflects Bharti Airtel’s continued presence and influence within the global telecommunications sector, with both Mr. Mittal and Mr. Vittal having held significant roles within the GSMA Board.

Mr. Vittal’s professional background includes his current role as Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel. He also serves on the boards of Bharti Airtel Limited, Airtel Africa PLC, and Indus Towers. Prior to his current position, he served as Managing Director & CEO of Airtel for 12 years.

The GSMA Board will announce the election of a new Deputy Chair at a later date.

Taking on the role, Gopal Vittal said:

I am honored to be elected as the Chair of the GSMA Board. The mobile industry contributed $6.5 trillion to the global economy in 2024 and is the spine on which much of the innovation in the world is built. The GSMA, as a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem, is fundamental to discover, develop and deliver innovation that impacts positive change for all. I look forward to working closely with the GSMA team and the rest of the Board to continue this important work.

Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, 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 makes 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 revenues streams.