The Managing Director of Bharti Enterprises, Mr. Manoj Kohli will leave the Sunil Mittal-led group after over a decade, the Economic Times of India cites three people familiar with the matter as saying.
In what can be described as the exit of a general, Kohli’s departure after a decade from the company founded by Sunil Mittal, has only vice-chairman of Bharti Enterprises, Akhil Gupta, as the last of the old brigades in the group.
Kohli, who earlier headed Bharti Airtel in India and Africa, is said to be quitting by the end of this month. He had stepped down from Bharti Airtel’s board in February.
During his time as head of Bharti Airtel in India and Africa, Kohli was a familiar and regular face in Nigeria, Africa’s and Airtel Africa’s largest market.
Among the options he is said to be considering is partnering a US-based renewable energy firm for its India venture, one of these people to the Economic Times of India on condition of anonymity. Kohli could not be reached for comment. A Bharti spokesperson said in an email: “Manoj Kohli is a long standing and valued Bharti leader and has undertaken various assignments within the group. Manoj will continue to support Bharti’s growth plans.”
Kohli’s exit will leave Akhil Gupta, executive chairman of Bharti Infratel and vice-chairman of Bharti Enterprises, among the last of the old guards at the group. In 2013, Sanjay Kapoor had resigned as CEO of Bharti Airtel’s India and South Asia operations.
Kapoor was replaced by Gopal Vittal. The group also saw some other senior level exits around that time, which led to induction of new faces in the top management body. Kohli, who joined Bharti in 2002, rose to become CEO of Airtel’s India operations when telecom sector was growing exponentially.