Lucknow, 2 November 2026: The GSMA Board of Directors has re-elected Gopal Vittal as Chair for the upcoming 2027-2028 Board term, until December 2028. Mr Vittal has served on the GSMA Board for 10 years, including as Chair since 2025. As GSMA Chair, Mr Vittal oversees the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents the world’s mobile operators and companies in the broader mobile ecosystem. The GSMA Board has also elected Margherita Della Valle as co-Deputy Chair, alongside Ralph Mupita, who has been re-elected.
“I am honoured to be re-elected as Chair of the GSMA Board for a second time. As an industry, we are entering a new era in which advanced networks, AI and open digital platforms can create significant economic and societal value. Our top priority is security. Securing nations given the increased threats today, securing customers given the rising menace of scams and securing the industry by making it sustainable so it can continue to make forward leaning investments in technology and build the best infrastructure in all parts of the world. I look forward to continuing this important work with the GSMA team and my fellow Board members. I also look forward to working alongside our co-Deputy Chairs, Ralph Mupita and Margherita Della Valle. Their experience, geographical scope and insight will be a great strength as we take this agenda forward,” said Gopal Vittal.
Mr Vittal is Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, the world’s second largest mobile phone operator by customer base. He oversees Bharti Airtel and its subsidiaries and drives group strategy and synergies across digital and technology, network strategy, procurement and talent. He is also Non-Executive Chair of Airtel Africa and Airtel Payments Bank, and a Non-Executive Director on the BT Group Board. Under his leadership, Airtel has built a winning portfolio across Mobile, Homes, B2B, and Digital Services, achieving a lifetime-high revenue market share in one of the world’s most intensely competitive telecom markets.
Ralph Mupita has been Group President and CEO of MTN Group since September 2020, having previously served as Group Chief Financial Officer. He has been a Deputy Chair of the GSMA since April 2025 and is a Commissioner on the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and a founding Commissioner of the ITU’s AI for Good Global Commission. Mr Mupita is leading MTN’s strategy: Ambition 2030 focused on growing the connectivity, fintech and digital infrastructure opportunities across Africa.
Margherita Della Valle has been Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Group since January 2023, after serving as Group Chief Financial Officer from 2018. She has led Vodafone’s transformation into a simpler, stronger business.
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