Vodafone Idea Ltd (Vi) has appointed Abhijit Kishore as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and key managerial personnel for a three-year term, effective August 19, 2025. The appointment follows the completion of outgoing CEO Akshaya Moondra’s tenure, which ends on August 18.
Kishore takes charge at a critical time for the debt-laden telecom operator, which continues to grapple with adjusted gross revenue (AGR) liabilities and is seeking fresh debt financing. The company remains in discussions with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the government for clarity and potential relief — a crucial step for enabling future fundraising.
A Veteran in Indian Telecom
Currently serving as Vi’s Chief Operating Officer, Kishore has been with the company since March 2015, holding multiple senior roles across circle operations and corporate functions. He previously led the enterprise business as Chief Enterprise Business Officer and served as Circle Business Head for Gujarat and Kerala, where he oversaw the launch of India’s first 4G services.
With over 27 years of experience in the Indian telecom sector, Kishore brings deep operational and strategic expertise to the CEO role.
Outgoing CEO’s Legacy
Akshaya Moondra, who served as CFO of Idea Cellular from June 2008 to August 2018, was instrumental in driving the Vodafone–Idea merger in 2018. He took over as CEO in August 2022, steering the company through intense market competition and financial headwinds.
Key initiatives during his leadership included:
- ₹25,000 crore rights issue in 2019 to cut debt and strengthen the balance sheet.
- Negotiations that led to the government converting dues into equity twice, providing temporary relief.
- The latest conversion in March 2025, when ₹36,950 crore of spectrum auction dues were converted into equity, raising the government’s stake to 48.99%, while operational control stayed with the promoters.
