Bharti Airtel Limited has appointed Vivek Mehta as Chief Internal Auditor and Head - Internal Assurance, effective August 5, 2026. The appointment was approved by the Board of Directors during a meeting held on August 4, 2026, which commenced at IST 1400 Hrs and concluded at IST 1740 Hrs. Mehta succeeds Ramjee Verma, who will be moving into a new role within the Group w.e.f. August 5, 2026.

The disclosure was made pursuant to Regulation 30 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, read with SEBI Master Circular No. HO/49/14/14(7)2025-CFD-POD2/I/3762/2026 dated January 30, 2026. Rohit Krishan Puri, Company Secretary & Compliance Officer, signed the filing on August 4, 2026.

Executive Profile

Vivek Mehta currently serves as Global Shared Service Head and Senior Vice President - Finance at Bharti Airtel. He brings over two decades of diverse experience in financial leadership, particularly within the telecommunications sector. Before joining Airtel, Mehta was associated with VIP Industries Ltd.

His career at Bharti Airtel includes progressive leadership roles, notably his previous position as Head - Regulatory Compliance. In his current capacity, he leads initiatives to automate and simplify financial processes across geographies for the Company. Management noted that Mehta has demonstrated capabilities in operational excellence, strengthening governance, regulatory compliance, and large team handling throughout his tenure.

Key Details of Appointment

The change represents an internal organizational shift, with the incumbent moving to a different function within the Group rather than exiting the organization entirely.

Bharti Airtel Limited reported a consolidated net profit of ₹100,116 million for the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, marking a 35% year-on-year increase from ₹74,218 million in Q1FY25. This growth underscores the company’s expanding operational scale and margin resilience despite rising finance costs. Consolidated revenue from operations rose 18% YoY to ₹585,391 million, driven by double-digit growth across key segments including Mobile Services India and Mobile Services Africa. The results were approved by the Board of Directors on August 4, 2026, following review by the Audit Committee.

The financial statements were audited by Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP in compliance with Regulations 30 and 33 of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The auditor confirmed that the results present a true and fair view in conformity with Ind AS 34. Notably, the Group recognized an exceptional charge of ₹3,534 million during the quarter due to a provision for the in-principle settlement of a commercial dispute in one of its African subsidiaries. Additionally, Bharti Airtel completed a composite transaction involving the issuance of 146,761,335 equity shares to Indian Continental Investment Limited (ICIL) at ₹1,923 per share, amounting to ₹282,222 million. This share swap increased the Group’s effective stake in Airtel Africa Plc from 62.62% to 78.93%, which further rose to 79.11% following Airtel Africa’s share buy-back program.

Segment Performance

Mobile Services India remained the largest revenue contributor, generating ₹299,289 million, up from ₹273,966 million in Q1FY25. The segment delivered a profit before finance costs, charity, donations, exceptional items, and tax of ₹99,556 million. Mobile Services Africa saw robust growth, with revenue jumping to ₹175,657 million from ₹120,831 million in the prior year period, reflecting expanded market presence and mobile money services. Airtel Business revenue reached ₹56,654 million, while Passive Infrastructure Services, operated through Indus Tower Limited, contributed ₹85,254 million.

What the Numbers Show

The divergence between top-line growth and bottom-line expansion highlights improved operating leverage. While revenue grew 18% YoY, net profit surged 35%, indicating that cost controls and operational efficiencies are outpacing expense inflation. Network operating expenses rose 13% to ₹108,097 million, and employee benefits increased 25% to ₹21,776 million, yet these were more than offset by higher average revenue per user and scale benefits. Furthermore, the significant rise in Mobile Services Africa revenue—driven by both organic growth and consolidation effects from the ICIL deal—demonstrates the strategic value of deepening control over international assets. The exceptional charge of ₹3,534 million did not derail profitability, suggesting underlying operational strength remains intact.