Vodafone Idea Appoints Abhijit Kishore as New CEO, Effective August 19

Vodafone Idea Ltd (Vi) has announced a significant shift in its top leadership. The telecom operator has appointed Abhijit Kishore as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective August 19, 2025. Kishore takes over from Akshaya Moondra, whose three-year term officially concludes on August 18, 2025.

The appointment was confirmed through an official exchange filing, marking a pivotal moment for the debt-ridden telecom giant as it looks to navigate a highly competitive market dominated by Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel.

Abhijit Kishore to Lead for Three Years

According to Vodafone Idea’s filing, Kishore has been appointed as CEO and Key Managerial Personnel for a tenure of three years, beginning August 19, 2025. The company highlighted that this leadership transition was necessitated by the completion of Moondra’s three-year term.

The change in leadership comes at a time when Vi is under intense pressure to raise capital, expand its 4G/5G services, and strengthen its customer base.

A Crucial Phase for Vodafone Idea

Abhijit Kishore’s elevation to the top role marks a turning point for Vodafone Idea. His appointment comes during a critical phase, where the telecom operator is working to stabilize its financial performance while preparing for the next phase of digital transformation in India’s telecom sector.

Kishore has been with the company since March 2015 and has played an integral role in shaping Vodafone Idea’s operations at both circle level and corporate headquarters.

Kishore’s Career Journey at Vodafone Idea

Before being named CEO, Kishore served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Vodafone Idea. In this role, he oversaw business operations across multiple verticals, ensuring efficiency and growth in key markets.

Earlier, he was the Chief Enterprise Business Officer, leading the company’s enterprise business division. Under his leadership, Vodafone Idea forged partnerships with large corporate clients, strengthening its position in India’s B2B telecom segment.

Kishore has also served as Circle Business Head for Gujarat and Kerala, where he drove regional expansion and improved market share. Notably, he was part of the launch team for India’s first 4G network, showcasing his contribution to India’s telecom evolution.

Outgoing CEO Akshaya Moondra’s Tenure

Akshaya Moondra, who took charge in August 2022, navigated Vodafone Idea through one of its most challenging periods. His three-year leadership focused on:

• Stabilizing financial performance

• Debt management and restructuring

• Fund-raising initiatives to support expansion

• Steering the company amid rising competition from Jio and Airtel

Moondra’s leadership followed that of Ravinder Takkar, continuing efforts to sustain operations despite Vi’s mounting debt burden.

Telecom Experience of Abhijit Kishore

With 27 years of experience in India’s telecom sector, Kishore brings deep industry expertise and operational acumen. His involvement in the rollout of India’s first 4G network highlights his technical and strategic capabilities.

Industry experts believe that his track record of strategic decision-making and operational leadership will be instrumental in guiding Vodafone Idea through its debt restructuring, capital-raising plans, and 5G expansion strategy.

Vodafone Idea’s Challenges Ahead

Despite being one of India’s largest telecom operators, Vodafone Idea continues to face serious challenges:

• Competition from Jio and Airtel: Both rivals have aggressively expanded their 5G networks and strengthened subscriber bases.

• Funding pressure: Vi urgently needs to secure fresh capital to sustain operations and invest in infrastructure.

• Service expansion: The company must improve its 4G/5G rollout to remain competitive.

• Subscriber retention: Growing customer demand for high-speed internet and digital services makes it critical for Vi to innovate and upgrade quickly.

The appointment of Abhijit Kishore signals Vodafone Idea’s intent to restructure operations, drive growth, and re-establish its presence in India’s telecom space.