Bharti Airtel's Managing Director and CEO, Gopal Vittal, has been re-elected as Deputy Chair of the GSMA Board for the 2025-2026 term, beginning January 1, 2025. This election comes as the GSMA announces its newly elected Board of Directors, which includes 26 members representing major global telecommunications companies for a two-year term.
Also Read: GSMA Launches Responsible AI Roadmap for Telecom Operators
The GSMA Board has also elected Joss Maria Alvarez-Pallete Lopez as Chair. As GSMA Chair, Alvarez-Pallete Lopez will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents the world's mobile operators and companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, the organisation said.
GSMA Board Members for the 2025-2026 Term
There are 26 members of the GSMA Board, including senior representatives from global mobile operators as well as smaller independent operators. The GSMA Board for the 2025-2026 term includes, in alphabetical order:
- America Movil, Carlos M. Jarque, Executive Director of Corporate, Government, and International Relations
- AT&T, F Thaddeus Arroyo, Chief Strategy and Development Officer
- Bharti Airtel, Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
- BT (EE Ltd.), Allison Kirkby, Group CEO
- China Mobile, Gao Tongqing, Executive Vice President
- China Telecom, Li Jun, Executive Vice President
- China Unicom
- Deutsche Telekom, Dominique Leroy, Board Member for Europe
- e&, Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO
- Ethio Telecom, Frehiwot Tamru, CEO
- Globe, Ernest Lawrence Cu, President and CEO
- GSMA, Mats Granryd, Director General
- KDDI, Makoto Takahashi, Group CEO
- KT, Young Shub Kim, Group CEO
- Liberty Global, Mike Fries, CEO
- MTN, Ralph Mupita, Group President and CEO
- Orange, Bruno Zerbib, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer
- Reliance Jio, Mathew Oommen, President and Member of the Board
- Telecom Argentina, Roberto Nobile, CEO
- Telefonica, Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete, Chairman & CEO
- Telenor, Benedicte Fasmer, President and Group CEO Elect
- TIM, Pietro Labriola, Group CEO and General Manager
- Turkcell, Ali Taha Koc, CEO
- Veon, Kaan Terzioglu, Group CEO and Board member of VEON Group
- Verizon, Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology
- Vodafone, Margherita Della Valle, Group CEO
As Deputy Chair, Gopal Vittal will play a crucial role in steering the GSMA's strategic initiatives and addressing the evolving challenges in the mobile landscape.
Also Read: Telcos Have Reached a Saturation Point with Limited Monetisation Prospects?
GSMA Association
The GSMA (GSM Association) is a global organisation that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Representing mobile operators and organisations across the mobile ecosystem and adjacent industries, the GSMA says it delivers for its members across three broad pillars: Connectivity for Good, Industry Services and Solutions, and Outreach.
