Brands
Shashwat Sharma to assume role of managing director and CEO at Airtel
GURGAON: Shashwat Sharma will take over as managing director and chief executive officer of Airtel India from January 1, 2026, closing a year-long succession process designed to ensure continuity at one of India’s largest telecom operators. Having served as ceo-designate over the past year, Sharma has worked closely with the senior leadership team to prepare for the transition.
In his new role, Sharma will lead Airtel India’s operations and drive its next phase of growth in a fiercely competitive telecom market, where scale, customer experience and capital discipline increasingly determine winners.
Sharma brings nearly two decades of leadership experience across telecom, consumer brands and large-scale business operations. Over the past seven years at Bharti Airtel, he has held a series of senior positions, including chief operating officer, director for consumer business and ceo of the DTH unit, and chief marketing and brand officer. Across these roles, he played a central part in pushing customer-led growth, sharpening the brand and scaling operations.
Before joining Airtel, Sharma spent more than 13 years at Hindustan Unilever, where he held leadership roles across sales, regional and global brand management and category leadership. His tenure included leading the oral care and ayush businesses, giving him deep exposure to mass and premium consumer segments alike.
The appointment reflects Airtel’s preference for continuity over disruption. By grooming a ceo internally, the company has signalled confidence in its existing strategy while betting on a leader with a strong blend of operational rigour and consumer insight.
As India’s telecom market enters its next chapter, marked by consolidation, data-led services and rising customer expectations, Airtel is placing its future in familiar hands.
Brands
Tech Mahindra names Jeetu Anandani VP & country head – enterprise & strategic accounts
Veteran tech leader to drive enterprise growth across Australia and New Zealand
MELBOURNE: Jeetu Anandani has stepped into a larger leadership role at Tech Mahindra, taking charge as vice president and country head for enterprise and strategic growth across Australia and New Zealand.
Based in Melbourne, Anandani will steer the company’s enterprise portfolio in the ANZ region, focusing on expanding business across high-growth sectors such as retail, energy and utilities, health insurance and logistics. The move signals Tech Mahindra’s intent to deepen its presence in one of the world’s most competitive enterprise technology markets.
In his new role, Anandani will lead growth initiatives, build strategic partnerships and strengthen relationships with key stakeholders across industries. His mandate also includes accelerating business development efforts in sectors such as manufacturing, travel and logistics while helping clients navigate digital transformation and AI-led change.
The promotion caps a steady rise within Tech Mahindra. Anandani most recently served as communications, media and entertainment head for BPS across the Asia Pacific and Japan region, where he worked on expanding enterprise deals and strategic partnerships. Before that, he held the role of account director, managing key client relationships and delivery programmes.
Prior to joining Tech Mahindra in 2020, Anandani spent nearly eight years at Telstra as country manager in Mumbai, overseeing operational growth and partnerships. His earlier career includes leadership stints at Tata Consultancy Services, Vodafone and JPMorgan Chase.
With more than two decades of experience across telecom, banking and IT services, Anandani now takes the helm of Tech Mahindra’s enterprise push in ANZ, a region where demand for AI, digital transformation and large-scale technology partnerships continues to gather pace.
