Telecom operator Vodafone Idea Limited (Vi) has appointed Abhijit Kishore as its new Chief Executive Officer and a Key Managerial Personnel, effective August 19, 2025. The decision comes as current CEO Akshaya Moondra completes his three-year term with the company.
The Board of Directors approved Kishore’s appointment during a meeting on Wednesday, following the recommendation of the Nomination & Remuneration Committee. He will serve a three-year term, ending on 18 August 2028.
Kishore is currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Vodafone Idea and has been associated with the company since March 2015. Over the past decade, he has held several senior roles across operations and corporate functions within the circle.
Before becoming COO, Kishore served as the Chief Enterprise Business Officer and was also Circle Business Head for Gujarat and Kerala. During his tenure, he played a key role in launching India’s first 4G network. With more than 27 years of experience in the Indian telecom industry, Kishore has worked across multiple functions and geographies.
An alumnus of the University of Delhi and the FORE School of Management, Delhi, Kishore has also completed leadership programmes at IIM Ahmedabad and the London Business School.
Outgoing CEO Akshaya Moondra, who took charge on August 19, 2022, will step down on August 18, 2025, marking the conclusion of his tenure. The company stated that the leadership change represents a seamless transition within its existing management team.
Vodafone Idea announced the appointment in line with Regulation 30 of SEBI’s Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations, 2015, and has filed the necessary documents with both the NSE and BSE.
Kishore takes charge at a time when the Indian telecom industry is undergoing rapid transformation. Vodafone Idea faces tough competition from Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, both of which are aggressively expanding their 5G networks and customer base.
The company also continues to grapple with high debt levels and financial stress, which have weighed on its ability to invest in network expansion. Analysts say Kishore’s key challenges will include securing fresh investments, accelerating the 5G rollout, and improving subscriber growth while maintaining service quality.
Despite these hurdles, industry experts believe that Kishore’s long experience and deep knowledge of Vi’s operations could help the company navigate its challenges and strengthen its position in the Indian telecom market.
