Airtel’s Vittal, MTN’s Mupita re-elected to GSMA leadership as board prioritises fight against scams

Airtel Africa’s Chairman Gopal Vittal has been re-elected as Chairman of the GSMA Board of Directors for the upcoming 2027-2028 Board term. Alongside Vittal, the Board also re-elected MTN Group Chairman Ralph Mupita as co-Deputy Chair, alongside Margherita Della Valle, who will be serving his first term. 

Following the election, the board aims to prioritise the security of telecom users against increasing threats such as scams and aims to make investment sustainable amid rising tech innovations.

“I am honoured to be re-elected as Chair of the GSMA Board for a second time. As an industry, we are entering a new era in which advanced networks, AI and open digital platforms can create significant economic and societal value,” said Gopal Vittal in a statement released on Monday by GSMA.

He added, “Our top priority is security.”

Also read: Airtel Africa names Gopal Vittal new chairman as Sunil Mittal exits after 7 years in the role.

With increasing AI adoption, telecom subscribers face several common scams and fraudulent schemes that target their phone numbers, financial accounts, and personal data. The most common threats are SIM swap, SMS and voice phishing, device scams, fake telecom offers, and interconnect bypass.

Recent reports show the effect of SIM swap, the most common form of telecom fraud, on users’ financial resources. 

In South Africa, SIM swap attacks account for up to 60% of mobile banking breaches in 2024, while SIM swap incidents and identity theft surged by 25% and 20%, respectively, driving billions of rands in annual system-wide losses. 

The wave of attacks was also evident in Kenya, where SIM swap fraud cases surged by 327% in 2024, with over 123,000 fraudulent SIM cards issued. The event led to an estimated loss of $3.8 million (approx. KSh 491.6 million) siphoned directly from mobile wallets. 

The new GSMA board will aim to enhance security measures across telecom operators in Africa and beyond. 

“I look forward to continuing this important work with the GSMA team and my fellow Board members. I also look forward to working alongside our co-Deputy Chairs, Ralph Mupita and Margherita Della Valle. Their experience, geographical scope and insight will be a great strength as we take this agenda forward,” Gopal Vittal added.  

Resourceful hands at the GSMA board

Aside from his role as Airtel Africa’s Chairman, Gopal Vittal currently serves as the Executive Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, the world’s second-largest mobile phone operator by customer base. He oversees Bharti Airtel and its subsidiaries and drives group strategy and synergies across digital and technology, network strategy, procurement and talent. 

He is also a Non-Executive Chair of Airtel Payments Bank and a Non-Executive Director on the BT Group Board. Under his leadership, Airtel has built a leadership portfolio across mobile, home, B2B, and digital services.

Having previously served as Group Chief Financial Officer, Ralph Mupita has been Group President and CEO of MTN Group since September 2020. He has been a Deputy Chair of the GSMA since April 2025 and is a Commissioner on the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development and a founding Commissioner of the ITU’s AI for Good Global Commission. 

Mupita is leading MTN’s Ambition 2030 strategy focused on growing connectivity, fintech and digital infrastructure opportunities across Africa. The group’s Fintech separation as a standalone enterprise and ongoing acquisition of IHS Towers form a notable path towards the ambition. 

After serving as Group Chief Financial Officer from 2018, Margherita Della Valle currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone Group, a role she has held since January 2023. She has led Vodafone’s transformation into a simpler, stronger business.   

The new board term will run from January 2027 to December 2028, with security, fraud prevention and sustainable investment in telecommunications infrastructure expected to remain central to the GSMA’s priorities.