Announcing major changes in its organisational structure, business conglomerate Bharti Enterprises, on Tuesday, said Gopal Vittal, at present Joint Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Airtel in India, will be elevated to the position of the flagship’s Managing Director and CEO (India & South Asia). As part of restructuring, Bharti Airtel’s Bangladesh and Sri Lanka operations are being brought back under South Asia operations. Similarly, Manoj Kohli will relinquish his position as Managing Director & CEO (International) and take over as Managing Director of Bharti Enterprises to lead the group’s all non-telecom businesses.
“A new position of MD of Bharti Enterprises is created for professional and structured oversight of the non-listed group companies,” a company statement said. The new organisational changes will be effective from April 1, 2014. Mr. Kohli will also be on various Bharti boards, including Airtel, and be the Chairman of Bharti Airtel International (Netherlands) BV.
Similarly, Akhil Gupta has been designated as Chairman of Bharti Infratel and Vice-Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, and will serve on other Bharti boards.
D. S. Rawat, CEO of Bharti Infratel, has been appointed Managing Director and CEO of Bharti Infratel, besides being inducted into the company’s board. Christian de Faria has been appointed by Bharti Airtel International (Netherlands) BV as Managing Director and CEO (Africa), and will assume full operational responsibility of the company’s operations across 17 African geographies.
Under the new structure, the Bharti Corporate Office will be focussed on and deal with matters of governance. Accordingly, Sunil Mittal, Chairman, Bharti Enterprises; and three Vice-Chairmen — Rakesh Mittal, Rajan Mittal and Akhil Gupta — along with Mr. Kohli and four Bharti veterans will form the Bharti Governance Board (BGB), the statement added.
“The new structure reflects the next phase of Bharti’s growth journey, which will be led by best-in-class professionals in various segments…,” said Bharti Enterprises Chairman Sunil Mittal.
