Telecom major Bharti Airtel Limited has announced the appointment of Mr. Dinesh Kumar Khara, former Chairman of the State Bank of India (SBI), as an Independent Director on its Board. The appointment, effective November 3, 2025, is for a term of five years, subject to shareholders’ approval.
The decision was taken at a Board meeting held on November 3, 2025, based on the recommendation of the company’s HR and Nomination Committee, according to a regulatory filing made under Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015.
Profile of Mr. Dinesh Kumar Khara
Mr. Khara is a veteran banker with nearly four decades of experience in the financial services sector. He served as the Chairman of the State Bank of India from October 2020 to August 2024, during which he steered India’s largest bank through a transformative phase of digital expansion and operational consolidation.
Prior to becoming Chairman, he held several key leadership roles at SBI, including Managing Director (Global Banking & Subsidiaries) and Managing Director (Associates & Subsidiaries). In these roles, he oversaw SBI’s international operations, corporate banking, and major non-banking subsidiaries such as SBI Mutual Fund, SBI Life Insurance, SBI Cards, and SBI Capital Markets.
He was also instrumental in the successful merger of five Associate Banks and Bhartiya Mahila Bank with SBI, one of the largest consolidations in India’s banking history.
Mr. Khara holds an MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University, and a postgraduate degree in Commerce from the Delhi School of Economics. He is also a Fellow of the Indian Institute of Banking & Finance.
Regulatory Confirmation
Bharti Airtel confirmed that Mr. Khara is not related to any other directors of the company and that he is not debarred from holding the office of Director by any regulatory authority, including SEBI.
This appointment strengthens Airtel’s Board with deep expertise in financial management, corporate governance, and strategic leadership — aligning with the company’s focus on innovation, technology, and sustainable growth.
