GSMA Announces New Board and Re-elects Chairman

The GSMA, a leading organization for the mobile industry, has appointed a new 26-member board for the 2025-2026 term, starting in January 2025. This diverse group includes representatives from major mobile operators around the world, along with smaller independent players.

Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Bharti Airtel, has been appointed as Deputy Chair of the board. Vittal brings a wealth of experience in the mobile industry and will play a key role in supporting the Chair and guiding the organization's strategic direction.

José María Álvarez-Pallete López Retains Leadership

Importantly, the GSMA re-elected José María Álvarez-Pallete López as Chair. He will continue to guide the organization's strategic direction as the mobile industry undergoes rapid transformation driven by technology advancements, digitalization, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Looking Forward with Strong Leadership

Both Mr. Álvarez-Pallete López and Mats Granryd, Director General of the GSMA, expressed excitement about the future. Mr. López highlighted his commitment to collaboration for continued industry impact, while Mr. Granryd emphasized the GSMA's strong position to advocate for its members with the new board's leadership.

A Diverse Board for a Dynamic Industry

The new board reflects the global nature of the mobile industry, with representatives from established companies like AT&T, China Mobile, and Deutsche Telekom, alongside rising players such as Ethio Telecom and e&.

The new board members include:

• America Movil: Carlos M. Jarque, Executive Director of Corporate, Government and International Relations
• AT&T: F. Thaddeus Arroyo, Chief Strategy and Development Officer
• Bharti Airtel: Gopal Vittal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
• BT (EE Ltd.): Allison Kirkby, Group CEO
• China Mobile: Gao Tongqing, Executive Vice President
• China Telecom: Li Jun, Executive Vice President
• China Unicom: [China Unicom representative]
• Deutsche Telekom: Dominique Leroy, Board Member for Europe
• e&: Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO
• Ethio Telecom: Frehiwot Tamru, CEO
• Globe: Ernest Lawrence Cu, President and CEO
• GSMA: Mats Granryd, Director General
• KDDI: Makoto Takahashi, Group CEO
• KT: Young Shub Kim, Group CEO
• Liberty Global: Mike Fries, CEO
• MTN: Ralph Mupita, Group President and CEO
• Orange: Bruno Zerbib, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer
• Reliance Jio: Mathew Oommen, President and Member of the Board
• Telecom Argentina: Roberto Nobile, CEO
• Telefonica: Jose Maria Álvarez-Pallete, Chairman & CEO
• Telenor: Benedicte Fasmer, President and Group CEO Elect
• TIM: Pietro Labriola, Group CEO and General Manager
• Turkcell: Ali Taha Koc, CEO
• Veon: Kaan Terzioglu, Group CEO & Board member of VEON Group
• Verizon: Joe Russo, EVP & President of Global Networks and Technology
• Vodafone: Margherita Della Valle, Group CEO

The GSMA is committed to driving innovation and collaboration within the mobile industry. The organization plays a vital role in shaping industry standards, advocating for regulatory policies, and fostering partnerships between mobile operators and other stakeholders. With a strong and diverse board, the GSMA is well-positioned to continue its mission of unlocking the full potential of connectivity for individuals, businesses, and society as a whole.