Vodafone Idea Ltd (Vi) has officially announced a major change in its top leadership. The telecom operator has appointed Abhijit Kishore as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), following the completion of Akshaya Moondra’s term.
According to the company’s exchange filing, Kishore will assume the CEO role starting August 19, 2025, for a period of three years. Moondra’s tenure officially ends on August 18, 2025, marking the completion of his three-year term which began in August 2022.
Abhijit Kishore, Vodafone Idea’s New CEO
In an official statement, Vodafone Idea said, “Mr. Abhijit Kishore has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and Key Managerial Personnel of the Company for a period of 3 (three) years effective from 19th August, 2025. The appointment is necessitated due to Mr. Akshaya Moondra ceasing to be the Chief Executive Officer upon completion of his term of 3 years, which is ending on close of business hours on 18th August, 2025.”
Leadership Transition at Vodafone Idea
The appointment of Abhijit Kishore marks a significant leadership transition for Vodafone Idea during a crucial phase in its business operations. Kishore has been with Vodafone Idea since March 2015 and has held several leadership positions at both the circle operations level and corporate headquarters.
Before being elevated to CEO, he served as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and was responsible for overseeing operations across key verticals. Earlier, he also led the company’s enterprise business as Chief Enterprise Business Officer, playing a central role in building partnerships with large corporate clients.
Outgoing CEO Akshaya Moondra took the reins in August 2022, at a time when Vodafone Idea was grappling with major financial and operational challenges. His tenure focused on stabilising the company’s performance, managing debt, and working toward potential fund-raising. Moondra had succeeded Ravinder Takkar, who had served in the position before him.
Abhijit Kishore’s Telecom Experience
With over 27 years of experience in the Indian telecom sector, Abhijit Kishore brings extensive industry knowledge to the CEO role. He has previously served as the Circle Business Head for Gujarat and Kerala, where he played a key role in Vodafone’s regional expansion and operations. Notably, he was part of the team responsible for the launch of India’s first 4G network, demonstrating his involvement in pivotal technological advancements in the industry.
Kishore is well regarded for his strategic acumen and operational leadership, which the company hopes will help steer it through its current challenges and future opportunities in India’s fiercely competitive telecom space.
Despite being one of India’s major telecom operators, Vi continues to face stiff competition from Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, both of which have strengthened their 5G rollout and subscriber base. The company is also under pressure to raise capital, invest in infrastructure, and expand its 4G/5G services across the country.