Akhil Gupta has retired as Vice Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, effective March 31, 2026, bringing to a close a tenure of three decades. Often described as a ‘cornerstone’ of the group’s growth story, Gupta helped transform a young Indian telecom company into a global digital powerhouse.
Bharti Enterprises formalised Gupta’s exit via a heartfelt LinkedIn post.
Known within the organisation as AKG, Gupta was the driving force behind Bharti’s outsourcing partnerships with IBM and Ericsson, a move that marked a first for the telecom sector and went on to become an industry benchmark worldwide. He was also at the forefront of the creation of Indus Towers, one of the world’s largest tower companies. Both initiatives have since been documented as case studies at Harvard Business School.
A Chartered Accountant, Harvard alumnus, and widely respected industry leader, Gupta’s contributions to the sector have been recognised with numerous honours over the course of his career. In marking his departure, Bharti Enterprises celebrated a legacy defined by integrity, partnership, bold thinking, and nation-building, as Gupta embarks on a new chapter.
