Sanjay Kapoor to step down as Bharti Airtel CEO

Gopal Vittal, who rejoined Airtel in April 2012 as group director, special projects, will succeed Kapoor as head of of India operations, Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman and managing director of Bharti Airtel, said in a statement.

Vittal had last year joined Bharti Group from Hindustan Unilever.

Bharti Airtel did not give any reason for the change in the top management but said Kapoor has "decided to pursue his future aspirations outside of Bharti".

Kapoor joined Bharti Cellular Ltd as its chief operating officer in 1998 and soon took over as its CEO to develop Delhi Circle as the foundation stone of Airtel's growth.

As CEO for India and South Asia, Kapoor led key transformations, including the launch of Airtel's new global identity - giving it a fresh, youthful and vibrant face, realigning of the organisation from technology-facing to a customer-facing one for enhanced synergies, agility and customer elasticity, a company statement said.

Kapoor will continue his association with the Bharti Group and be on the board of Indus Towers Ltd and Bharti Global Ltd.

"Sanjay Kapoor will continue in his current role until Feb 28, 2013, and will be available to assist on key matters until March 31, 2013 ensuring a smooth transition process," the statement said.

South Asia operations of Bharti Airtel - Bangladesh and Sri Lanka -- would report to the CEO (International) of the group effective March 1, 2013. "However, various business leaders and functions from Airtel India would continue to support South Asia operations in this revised arrangement," the company said.

Share price of Bharti Airtel surged more than five percent after the change in top management was announced. The scrip closed 4.81 percent higher at Rs.345.25 after touching Rs.349.95 at the Bombay Stock Exchange.