Right Column Media

News on Business Developments

Shabnam Sinha to Succeed Sunil Mittal as Airtel Payments Bank Chairperson

BusinessNeel Achary18 Aug 2026

New Delhi, August 18: Airtel Payments Bank has announced a leadership transition, with Sunil Bharti Mittal set to step down as Non-Executive Chairman and leave the bank’s Board effective September 30, 2026.

Shabnam Sinha, currently an Independent Director on the bank’s Board, will take over as Chairperson for a three-year term beginning October 1, 2026. Her appointment has been approved by the bank’s Board as well as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Sinha brings more than three decades of experience in development finance, financial services, public policy and institutional transformation, including experience with the World Bank.

Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, was appointed Non-Executive Chairman of Airtel Payments Bank in April 2016. During his tenure, the bank expanded its digital financial services operations and customer base. Sinha said she looks forward to working with the Board and management to build on the bank’s momentum and drive its next phase of growth and financial inclusion.