GSMA board appoints Gopal Vittal as new Chairman

 The Board of Directors, GSM Association (GSMA) has elected Gopal Vittal, Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, as its new Chairman, effective until 2026.

Airtel Africa made this known in a statement on Monday in Lagos.

According to the statement, Gopal is currently the acting chairman of the GSMA board.

It said that Vittal, in his capacity as chairman, would provide strategic oversight and guidance to the GSMA.

“Vittal becomes the second Indian, after Sunil Bharti Mittal, to be elected as the Chairman of the GSMA Board.

“This appointment highlights the significant influence Airtel has in the global telecom industry, with both Sunil Bharti Mittal and Gopal Vittal having held key positions on the GSMA board for years,” the organisation noted.

Speaking on his role, Vittal said he was honoured to be elected as the chairman of the GSMA board.

According to him, the association’s membership comprises about 1,000 telecom companies worldwide, as well as handset and device manufacturers, and software developers.

Vittal added that the GSMA membership also included equipment providers, internet companies and organisations from adjacent industry sectors.

“The mobile industry contributed $6.5 trillion to the global economy in 2024 and is the spine on which much of the innovation in the world is built.

“The GSMA, as a global organisation unifying the mobile ecosystem, is fundamental to discover, develop and deliver innovation that impacts positive change for all.

“I look forward to working closely with the GSMA team and the rest of the Board to continue this important work,” Vittal said.

Commenting, Mats Granryd, the Director-General of the GSMA, said he had worked with Vittal for many years and was delighted that he had been appointed as substantive Chair of the GSMA board.

He noted that Vittal’s knowledge and experience made him well positioned to lead the board and the industry through the current challenges and opportunities.

Granryd said the industry’s challenges included leveraging AI and completing 5G for new business models and revenues streams.

He added that Vittal had served on the GSMA board in different capacities for over a decade, including being the deputy chairman for the last three years.

“Most recently, he was also appointed the acting chair of the GSMA board in early 2025 and has now been formally elected.

“Vittal will serve as the Chair of the board until the end of 2026,” Granryd said.