Bharti Airtel Executive Vice Chairman Gopal Vittal has been re-elected as GSMA Chair for the 2027-2028 Board term, extending his leadership of the global mobile industry association until December 2028. Having served on the GSMA Board for 10 years, including as Chair since 2025, Vittal will continue to oversee the organization’s strategic direction as the telecommunications industry navigates rapid technological changes driven by artificial intelligence (AI), advanced networks and digital platforms.
The GSMA Board has also elected Margherita Della Valle, Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Group, as Co-Deputy Chair alongside Ralph Mupita, who has been re-elected to the position.
Gopal Vittal Highlights Security as a Top Priority
Commenting on his re-election, Mr. Gopal Vittal said the mobile industry was entering a new era in which advanced networks, AI and open digital platforms could generate significant economic and societal value.
He identified security as the industry’s foremost priority, highlighting the need to protect nations against growing threats, safeguard customers from scams and ensure the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications sector.
Mr. Vittal also emphasized the importance of enabling continued investment in technology and building world-class digital infrastructure across markets.
He said, “I am honoured to be re-elected as Chair of the GSMA Board for a second time. As an industry, we are entering a new era in which advanced networks, AI and open digital platforms can create significant economic and societal value. Our top priority is security. Securing nations given the increased threats today, securing customers given the rising menace of scams and securing the industry by making it sustainable so it can continue to make forward leaning investments in technology and build the best infrastructure in all parts of the world. I look forward to continuing this important work with the GSMA team and my fellow Board members. I also look forward to working alongside our co-Deputy Chairs, Ralph Mupita and Margherita Della Valle. Their experience, geographical scope and insight will be a great strength as we take this agenda forward.”
Gopal Vittal’s Leadership at Bharti Airtel
Gopal Vittal serves as Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, one of the world’s largest mobile operators by customer base. He oversees the company’s operations and subsidiaries, while driving group strategy and synergies across digital and technology, network strategy, procurement and talent.
He also serves as Non-Executive Chair of Airtel Africa and Airtel Payments Bank and as a Non-Executive Director on the BT Group Board.
Under his leadership, Bharti Airtel has strengthened its presence across Mobile, Homes, B2B and Digital Services. The company has also achieved a lifetime-high revenue market share in India’s highly competitive telecommunications market.
His continued role at the GSMA places him at the centre of strategic discussions involving the global mobile ecosystem, including connectivity, technology investment and the industry’s evolving digital priorities.
Ralph Mupita and Margherita Della Valle Join GSMA Leadership
Alongside Mr. Vittal’s re-election, the GSMA Board has confirmed its deputy leadership for the upcoming term.
Ralph Mupita, Group President and CEO of MTN Group has been re-elected as Co-Deputy Chair. He has led MTN Group since September 2020, having previously served as its Group Chief Financial Officer. Mupita has also been a GSMA Deputy Chair since April 2025.
At MTN Group, he is leading the company’s Ambition 2030 strategy, which focuses on expanding opportunities across connectivity, fintech and digital infrastructure in Africa. He is also a Commissioner on the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and a founding Commissioner of the International Telecommunication Union’s AI for Good Global Commission.
Margherita Della Valle, CEO of Vodafone Group has been elected as the other Co-Deputy Chair. She took over as Vodafone’s CEO in January 2023 after serving as Group Chief Financial Officer from 2018.
During her tenure, Della Valle has led Vodafone’s transformation towards a simpler and stronger business, bringing significant experience in global telecommunications leadership to the GSMA Board.
GSMA’s Role in Shaping the Global Mobile Industry
The GSMA represents mobile operators and organizations across the broader mobile ecosystem worldwide. Its work focuses on advancing mobile connectivity, encouraging industry collaboration and supporting the development of technologies and services that contribute to the digital economy.
With Vittal continuing as Chair and Mupita and Della Valle serving as Co-Deputy Chairs, the GSMA’s leadership team will guide the organization through a period of significant technological and industry transformation.
As AI adoption accelerates, digital platforms expand and cybersecurity threats become increasingly complex, the priorities outlined by Vittal are expected to remain central to the global mobile industry’s future agenda.
