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Sunil Bharti Mittal is the Founder and Chairman of Bharti Enterprises, a first-generation Indian corporation founded in 1976 with interests in telecom, space communications, digital infrastructure, financial services, real estate and hospitality. In the past five decades, Bharti has built a strong portfolio of joint ventures with several global industry leaders.
Bharti Airtel, the flagship venture, is present across 17 countries in India, South Asia and Africa, serves over 650 million customers and ranks as the world’s second-largest mobile operator by number of subscribers. Sunil is Co-Chairman of Eutelsat and a Director on the Board of BT Group Plc, the UK’s leading fixed and mobile communications provider; Bharti is the largest private shareholder in both companies.
In recognition of his contribution to business and the economy, he received the Padma Bhushan and was conferred the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE), becoming the first Indian citizen to receive this recognition from HM King Charles III. He has also been recognised by several prestigious business and media houses including having been bestowed with the GSMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, reserved as a rare honour reserved for individuals with enduring and extraordinary contributions to the global mobile ecosystem.
Sunil has spearheaded the advancement of industry in his stewardship of global associations like the ICC (2016 – 2018) and GSMA (2017-2018). He was the first Indian to serve as a Trustee on the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2009 – 2021) and Chaired the B20 India Action Council on African Economic Integration (2023). His current affiliations include key positions at the WEF’s International Business Council, World Bank Group’s Private Sector Investment Lab, Hakluyt’s International Advisory Board and the Global Board of Advisors at the Council on Foreign Relations.
He has contributed to India’s trade and investment priorities through roles including membership of the Prime Minister of India’s Council on Trade and Industry (2004 -2014) and President of CII (2007–2008), and serves as Co-Chair of the India-UK CEO Forum and the India-Africa Business Council, with participation in India-US, India-Japan and India-Sweden CEO Forums.
His academic engagements include roles on advisory & governing bodies of renowned global institutions like the Universities of Harvard and Cambridge; LBS, LSE and Indian higher education institutes such as ISB, Plaksha University and SOUL.
Guided by his vision to contribute meaningfully to society, he established the Bharti Airtel Foundation in 2000 which runs over 150 Satya Bharti Schools, supports over 1,000 government schools through its Quality Support Program, and advances access to world-class higher education for meritorious young scholars across India and Africa.
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