Archive · 17 Aug 2026
Sunil Mittal Steps Down as Airtel Payments Bank Chief
A big bank in India called Airtel Payments Bank is getting a new leader.
The old leader, Sunil Mittal, is leaving after more than ten years of helping the bank grow.
A new chairperson named Shabnam Sinha will start on October 1.
She was already helping run the bank as an independent director.
The bank helps many people in India save money and pay for things.
It has more than 121 million users and nearly 30 million bank accounts.
Mittal helped the bank become one of the biggest payments banks in India.
Sinha has worked for the World Bank before and has lots of experience.
The change is normal for companies when leaders move on to other things.
The bank will keep helping people with banking under its new leader.
Sunil Bharti Mittal will step down as non-executive chairman of Airtel Payments Bank and leave its board on September 30, 2026.
Shabnam Sinha will take over as chairperson on October 1, 2026, for a three-year term, following board and RBI approval.
Mittal led the bank since April 2016, during which it became India's largest payments bank by revenue.
The bank serves over 121 million monthly active users and nearly 30 million bank account customers through more than five lakh banking points.
In FY26, Airtel Payments Bank reported revenue of ₹3,207 crore, up 18.4% year-on-year, with net profit of ₹109 crore.
- Who
- Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, and Shabnam Sinha, incoming chairperson of Airtel Payments Bank.
- What
- A leadership transition at Airtel Payments Bank, with Mittal stepping down as non-executive chairman and Sinha succeeding him as chairperson.
- When
- Mittal's tenure ends on September 30, 2026; Sinha takes over on October 1, 2026; the announcement was made on August 17, 2026.
- Where
- India, where Airtel Payments Bank operates its banking network.
- Why
- Mittal concludes his tenure after leading the bank since April 2016, and Sinha was appointed to lead the bank's next phase of growth.
- Company
- Airtel Payments Bank
- Outgoing Chairman
- Sunil Bharti Mittal
- Incoming Chairperson
- Shabnam Sinha
- Effective Date
- October 1, 2026
- Term
- Three years
- Monthly Active Users
- Over 121 million
- Bank Account Customers
- Nearly 30 million
- FY26 Revenue
- ₹3,207 crore (up 18.4% YoY)
