Sunil Bharti Mittal will step down as non-executive chairman of Airtel Payments Bank and leave its board on September 30, 2026.
Independent director Shabnam Sinha will take over as chairperson for a three-year term from October 1.
Highlights
- Sunil Bharti Mittal will step down as Airtel Payments Bank chairman on September 30, 2026.
- He will also exit the board of the payments bank on the same date.
- Shabnam Sinha will become chairperson from October 1, 2026.
- The RBI has approved Sinha’s appointment for a three-year term.
- Mittal has served as non-executive chairman since April 2016.
- Sinha brings more than three decades of experience in finance, public policy and institutional transformation.
Story
Airtel Payments Bank is set to see a major leadership change as Sunil Bharti Mittal prepares to step down as its non-executive chairman after nearly a decade in the role.
Mittal, the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, will step down from the position and also leave the board of Airtel Payments Bank on September 30, 2026.
Shabnam Sinha, currently an independent director on the bank’s board, will take over as chairperson from October 1, 2026. Her appointment will be for a three-year term and has received approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
Mittal’s Nearly Decade-Long Tenure
Sunil Bharti Mittal was appointed non-executive chairman of Airtel Payments Bank in April 2016. During his tenure, the bank expanded its presence across urban as well as rural India and developed a large network of banking points.
Mittal said it had been a privilege to see the bank grow from an initiative focused on improving financial accessibility into an institution serving millions of customers across the country.
He also expressed confidence that Sinha would build on the bank’s existing foundation and lead it into its next phase of growth.
Who Is Shabnam Sinha?
Shabnam Sinha is already associated with Airtel Payments Bank as an independent director. She currently chairs the bank’s Special Committee for Monitoring Frauds and is also a member of its Risk Management and IT Committees.
Sinha has more than three decades of experience across development finance, financial services, public policy and institutional transformation.
Her professional experience also includes working with the World Bank, where she advised governments and institutions across Asia, Africa and Europe on areas such as governance, risk management and operational effectiveness.
Sinha said digital financial services have become an important part of India’s inclusive growth journey. She plans to work with the bank’s board and management to strengthen its existing momentum and expand its reach among customers and communities.
The leadership transition comes as Airtel Payments Bank looks to deepen its focus on digital banking and financial inclusion in India.
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