Bharti, who recently was re-elected as the deputy chair of the GSMA board, succeeds José Maria Álvares-Pallete, who left his position at Telefónica after just under a decade.
According to the industry organisation that represents over hundreds of mobile operators, Álvares-Pallet is “no longer able to continue in the position of chair of the GSMA board of directors.
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It added: “The GSMA is grateful for his contribution to the organisation and to the industry overall.”
In a social media post, Bharti Airtel stated: “In this new role, Mr. Vittal will focus on strengthening the telecom industry and infrastructure in India.”
Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman & MD of Bharti Airtel and Deputy Chair of GSMA, has been appointed as the Acting Chair of the GSMA Board.
— Bharti Airtel (@airtelnews) February 3, 2025
Gopal was recently re-elected as Deputy Chair.
GSMA represents the global telecommunications industry, comprising over 1,100 companies from… pic.twitter.com/UAtbKRz8o3
Vittal has served as deputy chair since 2023 and was reappointed in October 2024.
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