Airtel's Gopal Vittal appointed interim chief of global telecom body
03 Feb 2025

Bharti Airtel's Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Gopal Vittal has been appointed as the Acting Chair of the GSMA board.

The move comes after the resignation of Jose Maria Alvares-Pallete, Chairman & CEO of Telefonica.

"By virtue of this resignation, he (Jose Maria Alvares-Pallete) is no longer able to continue in the position of the Chair of the GSMA," Airtel made the official announcement in a recent statement.

Vittal's previous role and experience
Prior involvement

Notably, Vittal was recently re-elected as the Deputy Chair of the GSMA board, a position he now vacates to take on his new role as Acting Chair.

He is not a stranger to the workings of this influential board, having served as a key member during the 2019-2020 term.

His experience and familiarity with the organization will prove valuable in his new leadership role.

GSMA's global reach and industry representation
Industry influence

The GSMA is a global telecommunications association that represents more than 1,100 companies from the telecom ecosystem across the globe.

Its members include telecom service providers, handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers, and internet companies.

The body also includes players in adjacent industry sectors, further expanding its influence and reach in the global telecommunications industry.