Airtel Elevates Akanksha Kanojia to Head – Talent, Culture & DEI
Bharti Airtel has announced the elevation of Akanksha Kanojia to the role of Head – Talent, Culture & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), strengthening its people leadership at a time when the telecom major continues to scale its digital, enterprise, and consumer businesses. In her expanded role, Kanojia will be responsible for shaping Airtel’s talent strategy, nurturing a high-performance culture, and driving DEI initiatives across functions and geographies.
Akanksha Kanojia has been associated with Airtel for several years and is widely regarded as a strategic HR leader with strong expertise in talent management, leadership development, and organizational transformation. Prior to this elevation, she played a key role in building robust talent pipelines, enhancing employee experience, and embedding future-ready skills aligned with Airtel’s evolving business needs.
As Head – Talent, Culture & DEI, Kanojia will focus on strengthening leadership capabilities, succession planning, and inclusive workplace practices. Her mandate includes fostering a culture that promotes innovation, agility, and collaboration, while ensuring diversity and inclusion remain central to Airtel’s people agenda. The company has consistently emphasized the importance of equitable opportunities, gender diversity, and inclusive leadership as part of its long-term growth strategy.
Airtel’s leadership stated that Kanojia’s elevation reflects the organization’s commitment to developing internal talent and recognizing leaders who demonstrate strong alignment with business goals and people priorities. With rapid technological advancements and increasing competition in the telecom and digital services space, Airtel is placing renewed focus on attracting, retaining, and developing top talent to sustain its market leadership.
The appointment also underscores a broader trend across Indian corporates, where HR leadership roles are expanding beyond traditional functions to include culture building, employee engagement, and DEI as strategic imperatives. By entrusting this role to a seasoned internal leader, Airtel aims to further integrate talent and culture initiatives with business outcomes.
Akanksha Kanojia’s elevation is expected to play a critical role in shaping Airtel’s organizational culture and strengthening its employer brand, positioning the company as a preferred workplace in the telecom and digital ecosystem.
