Bharti plans key reshuffle

Its once again reshuffle time at the countrys largest telecom firm,Bharti Airtel. The company which is divided into two verticals India amp; South Asia and the international business group ever since it acquired the African operations of Kuwaiti telecom firm Zain Telecom is likely to see a change in responsibilities among its key senior executives.

Its once again reshuffle time at the countrys largest telecom firm,Bharti Airtel. The company which is divided into two verticals India amp; South Asia and the international business group ever since it acquired the African operations of Kuwaiti telecom firm Zain Telecom is likely to see a change in responsibilities among its key senior executives.

Sources said Atul Bindal,currently president,mobile services,which comes under the India and South Asia vertical,is tipped to take charge as deputy CEO of the international business group under Manoj Kohli. The idea is that he be sufficiently groomed under Kohli to later take charge as the CEO. That is when Kohli is likely to return to the corporate office in Delhi with a larger role.

The process is quite similar to what the company adopted while elevating Sanjay Kapoor as CEO of India and South Asia. Before taking charge,Kapoor first served as deputy CEO under Kohli. Sources said Bindal gave a sterling performance under Kapoor on the operations side in the mobility business in the country and,therefore,is being elevated.

Bindal is a member on the Airtel management board and also chairs the mobile management board. Prior to his appointment as president,mobile services,he served as executive director south for the mobility business,group chief marketing officer and director mobility.

Bharti is among the top professionally-managed companies in India and identifies performers to take on larger roles. It has some of the finest professionals in the world. The company did not respond to an email query sent on Monday.

The last reshuffle in Bharti took place in January 2010 when,after its acquisition of a 70 stake in Bangladeshs Warid Telecom,the company created the international business group for enhanced focus on international expansion beyond India and South Asia,with Kohli put in charge of it.

It was under Kohli that the company had earlier crossed the 100-million subscriber base in the country. Later the Zain deal also came through. The international business group comprises a team of seasoned and experienced professionals from areas such as business development,networks amp; IT,project and performance excellence,brand and customer experience. The India and South Asia vertical,meanwhile,drives growth and business synergies in mobile services,telemedia services,enterprise services and DTH. Both the business groups report to the chairman and managing director,Sunil Mittal. Apart from India and Bangladesh and Zain,which has services in 15 countries,Bharti operates in three other international markets: Jersey amp; Guernsey,Sri Lanka and Seychelles. Bharti Airtel is the countrys largest mobile operator with around 159 million subscribers at February end.