**Airtel Executives See Pay Increases Amid Revenue Growth**
Bharti Airtel’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Gopal Vittal, received a 9% salary increase, bringing his total compensation to ₹20.2 crore for FY25. This follows a rise of over 10% in both FY24 and FY23. Meanwhile, Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal’s salary increased by 0.9% to ₹32.5 crore, and Chief Financial Officer Soumen Ray’s pay rose by 9.5% to ₹6.2 crore, a decrease from the 13.7% increase in FY24.
Despite these salary increments, Bharti Airtel reported a consolidated revenue of ₹1.7 trillion for FY25, marking a 10.4% increase from the previous year. The company achieved a record-high revenue market share of 40% in mobile services, as noted in Mittal’s statements in the annual report. In FY24, revenue from operations had already risen by 8% to ₹1.5 trillion.
**Decline in Median Employee Remuneration**
Over the past two years, the median remuneration for employees, excluding board members and key managerial personnel, has seen a decline. In FY25, the median employee salary fell by 3.95%, following a 5.6% drop in FY24. Bharti Airtel attributed this adjustment to its reward philosophy, external competitiveness, and adherence to its compensation and appraisal policy. The company confirmed that the increase in managerial remuneration remains within the limits approved by shareholders.
For FY25, the median remuneration for male employees was ₹8.38 lakh, while female employees earned a median of ₹8.17 lakh. This compares to ₹8.61 lakh for male employees and ₹9 lakh for female employees in FY24. Airtel explained that these changes were primarily due to shifts in employee roles and internal transitions, indicating no adverse impact on the overall compensation philosophy.
**Industry Trends and Future Outlook**
Murtuza Kachwala, Managing Director at Protiviti India, commented on the broader industry trend of cautious salary increases, noting that the average salary hike was trimmed to 8% in FY25 from 8.7% in FY24. This reflects a shift towards performance-based pay strategies amid significant investments in 5G, digital services, and infrastructure. Kachwala emphasized that while an 8% increase remains competitive, it illustrates the need for companies to balance talent retention with financial efficiency. The current job market stability has also reduced pressure on wage hikes, with attrition rates slowing in the tech and telecom sectors.
As Bharti Airtel continues to navigate these changes, its competitors, including Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea, have yet to release their annual reports, leaving the industry keenly observing the evolving landscape.
**FAQ**
**What factors influenced the salary adjustments at Bharti Airtel?**
The salary adjustments at Bharti Airtel were influenced by the company’s reward philosophy, external competitiveness, and internal role transitions, reflecting a strategic approach to compensation amidst changing market conditions.
