Vivek Badrinath has been appointed Director General and Member of the GSMA Board effective 1stApril 2025.
He replaces Mats Granryd, who will step down from his role after MWC Barcelona 2025. Granryd will remain as Director General until the end of March 2025 and then take on a new role of Special Advisor to the Board for the remainder of 2025.
Badrinath most recently served as CEO and Chairman of Vantage Towers AG. In 2016, Badrinath was appointed Regional CEO of Africa, Middle East and Asia Pacific at Vodafone, and became a member of Vodafone’s Executive Committee. Prior to his time at Vodafone, Badrinath held key positions at Orange, culminating in his appointment as Deputy CEO, Innovation, Marketing, and Technology, where he played a crucial part in driving digital transformation, expanding market reach, and improving customer experience. His leadership style and accomplishments have made him a respected figure in the global technology community.
“I am delighted to announce Vivek Badrinath’s appointment.” said José María Álvarez-Pallete López, Chairman of the GSMA. “During our selection process it was clear that Vivek’s deep understanding of the industry and its potential make him the ideal individual to lead the GSMA into the next phase of its evolution. I am confident that Vivek will work, together with the Board and our excellent GSMA Leadership Team, to drive change and innovation, creating value for both the industry and society.”