Bharti Airtel’s Gopal Vittal, the vice-chairman and managing director, has been appointed as the Acting Chair of the GSMA board. This comes after the resignation of José Maria Álvares-Pallete, the Chairman and CEO of Telefónica, who was previously holding this position. Álvares-Pallete’s resignation has made it impossible for him to continue as the Chair of the GSMA, and Vittal has taken over as Acting Chair. Vittal has previously served on the GSMA board as a key member for the term 2019-2020 and was recently re-elected as the Deputy Chair. The GSMA represents the global telecommunications industry, comprising over 1100 companies from the telecom ecosystem, including service providers, hardware and software companies, equipment providers, and internet companies, as well as organizations in adjacent industries.
As the Acting Chair, Vittal will be responsible for leading the GSMA board and shaping its strategy and direction. His appointment is significant, given his experience and understanding of the global telecommunications industry. As the managing director of Bharti Airtel, one of India’s largest telecommunications companies, Vittal has a deep understanding of the industry’s dynamics and challenges. His appointment is expected to bring stability and continuity to the GSMA leadership, ensuring that the organization continues to play a vital role in promoting the global telecommunications industry. The GSMA’s mission is to harness the communications industry’s innovative spirit and drive positive change in society, and Vittal’s leadership is expected to be instrumental in achieving this goal.