Airtel Africa on Wednesday said Sunil Bharti Mittal will retire as chairman of the board at the conclusion of the company's AGM in July 2026.

Gopal Vittal has been appointed as the non-executive chairman with effect from the same date while Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of deputy chair.

Shravin Mittal's taking charge as Deputy Chair will ensure continuity with the founding family and significant shareholder in Airtel Africa, which provides telecommunications and mobile money services in 14 countries across Africa.

"Sunil Bharti Mittal has informed the Board of his intention to retire as Chair of the Board at the conclusion of this year's AGM in July 2026," it said in a statement.

Mittal has served as chair since listing in 2019, Airtel Africa said, adding that the "board thanks him for his leadership and contribution during this period".

Airtel Africa further said Vittal's appointment is by nomination of the controlling shareholder pursuant to the terms of the relationship agreement dated June 17, 2019 between the company, Bharti Airtel, Airtel Africa Mauritius Ltd, the majority shareholder and an indirect subsidiary of Bharti Airtel, and Bharti Telecom.

Vittal is an established telecom leader who led Bharti Airtel to a life-time high revenue market share in an intensely competitive market and is the current Board Chair of the GSMA.

He was appointed a non-executive director of Airtel Africa in October 2024.

"The Board acknowledges that Vittal will not be independent on appointment for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code," the statement added.

Shravin Bharti Mittal will assume the role of Deputy Chair with effect from the same date, it said.

"As Deputy Chair, Mr. Mittal will ensure continuity with the founding family and significant shareholder, and will be the Board's conduit with the Airtel Money Board, on which he serves, and with Airtel Africa's headquarters in Dubai, where he is based," according to the statement.

As part of the ongoing succession planning in respect of the company's Non-Executive Directors, Annika Poutiainen will also retire at the conclusion of the July AGM, after serving for over seven years.

Sunil Mittal thanked the board of Airtel Africa for all its support and noted that the company has a "solid strategy and an outstanding leadership team in place, the strength of which is evident in recent results".

"So I am confident that now is the time for me to step aside as Chair. It has been an honour to lead Airtel Africa in this capacity, and I know the company will continue to prosper and to advance the transformative power of connectivity to the millions of customers we serve across 14 African countries," the telecom industry stalwart said.

Mittal further said he will be available to support the company as requested by the chair.