Bharti Airtel Limited has announced significant directorate changes at its subsidiary Airtel Africa plc, marking a planned leadership transition at the telecommunications company with operations across 14 African countries. The changes, announced on March 25, 2026, will take effect at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting scheduled for July 2026.

Leadership Transition at Board Level

The most notable change involves the retirement of Sunil Bharti Mittal from his position as Chair of the Board. Mr. Mittal has served in this capacity since Airtel Africa's listing in 2019 and has informed the Board of his intention to step down at the July AGM.

New Chair Appointment Details

Gopal Vittal will assume the role of Non-Executive Chair with effect from the same date as Mr. Mittal's retirement. His appointment comes through nomination by the controlling shareholder under the terms of the relationship agreement dated June 17, 2019, between the Company, Bharti Airtel, Airtel Africa Mauritius Limited, and Bharti Telecom.

Mr. Vittal brings significant telecommunications industry experience, having led Bharti Airtel to achieve lifetime high revenue market share in a competitive market environment. He currently serves as Board Chair of the GSMA and was appointed as a non-executive director of Airtel Africa in October 2024. The Board has acknowledged that Mr. Vittal will not be considered independent upon appointment for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Deputy Chair Role and Continuity Measures

Shravin Bharti Mittal will take on the newly created role of Deputy Chair, ensuring continuity with the founding family and significant shareholder interests. In this capacity, he will serve as the Board's liaison with the Airtel Money Board and maintain connections with Airtel Africa's headquarters in Dubai, where he is based.

Director Retirement and Succession Planning

As part of ongoing succession planning for Non-Executive Directors, Annika Poutiainen will retire at the conclusion of the July AGM after serving for over seven years. During her tenure, she contributed significantly as:

• Member of the Audit & Risk Committee
• Board sustainability champion
• Leader in establishing the Group's sustainability strategy
• Advocate for high standards of governance and financial reporting

Leadership Commentary

Sunil Bharti Mittal expressed gratitude for the Board's support during his tenure and confidence in the company's future direction. He emphasized Airtel Africa's solid strategy and outstanding leadership team, noting that recent results demonstrate the organization's strength. Mr. Mittal has offered to remain available to support the company as requested by the new Chair.

Tsega Gebreyes, Senior Independent Director, acknowledged Mr. Mittal's contributions from Airtel Africa's acquisition in 2010 through its listing in 2019 and subsequent inclusion in the FTSE100. She described his leadership as instrumental in guiding the company to its current achievements in the global telecommunications industry.

The announcement confirms that no further disclosures are required pursuant to UKLR 6.4.6R, indicating compliance with all relevant regulatory requirements for the directorate changes.

Bharti Airtel Limited witnessed another substantial block trade on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), highlighting continued institutional activity in the telecom major's shares.

Latest Block Trade Details

The recent transaction recorded on NSE involved significant volume and value, demonstrating ongoing participation from large investors in Bharti Airtel's stock.

Market Significance

Block trades represent large-volume transactions typically executed by institutional investors, mutual funds, or other significant market participants. These transactions are conducted outside the regular market to avoid impacting the stock's market price during execution. The substantial value of Rs. 57.25 crores indicates meaningful institutional interest in Bharti Airtel shares.

The execution price of Rs. 1837.80 per share reflects the prevailing market conditions at the time of the transaction. Such block deals often provide insights into institutional sentiment and can indicate strategic positioning by large investors in the company's stock. The price represents a slight premium compared to previous block trade activities, suggesting sustained investor confidence in the telecom operator's prospects.