Ex Airtel CEO Sanjay Kapoor appointed as Chairman at Micromax

Micromax India, the smartphone player and leading consumer electronics brand, announced the induction of Sanjay Kapoor, former CEO of Bharti Airtel to the Micromax promoter group and Chairman of the board with immediate effect.

This development reflects Micromax’s vision of stepping up to the next phase of growth as it continues its journey to become India’s number one smartphone player and the first Indian mobile brand to be successful globally. Micromax will be leveraging Sanjay’s vast experience in building India's biggest telecom services brand and his industry expertise built playing an active role in prominent industry forums like GSMA, CII, COAI and NASSCOM over the past 13 years.

Announcing the new Chairman, Rahul Sharma, Co-founder of Micromax Informatics Limited said, “We are glad to have Sanjay to be a part of Micromax's promoter group and on our board as the new Chairman. Sanjay is one of the most respected professionals in the Indian corporate world and has been instrumental in building some of the most successful technology brands in the country over the past three decades. I am confident that he will be able to provide required strategic direction to take our billion dollar business to the next level of growth and expansion.”

He further added, “Sanjay’s strategic and inspirational leadership skills will certainly provide strong impetus to Micromax as we pursue our aim to be the first Indian hardware brand driving success globally. He will be instrumental in building synergies for our existing international businesses and spearhead our foray into other international markets in the near future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Sanjay Kapoor, Chairman, Micromax Informatics Limited said, “I am excited as an entrepreneur to be a part of the promoter group and as a professional to lead the Micromax board & management. I look forward to adding value to all stakeholders leveraging my strengths in building scale, developing brands and understanding consumers. There is a tremendous potential for Micromax, a vibrant youth brand that has led the democratization of technology for masses, offering affordable innovations to the consumers."

He further added, "Micromax is truly the new age brand that has made an indelible mark on the industry within a short time by changing the dynamics of the mobile eco-system. Proliferation in data services and cutting edge devices that make technology affordable for masses will be critical for next phase of growth and I am confident that Micromax will lead this transition.”

Sanjay is an established global leader in Telecom and allied industry. Sanjay was the Chief Executive Officer for India and South Asia of India’s largest telecom company, Airtel (March 2010 till May 2013). Sanjay remains one of the key leaders in building Bharti Airtel from being one of the many players in the industry to making it as the number one telecom player in India, during his tenure with the company from July 1998 to May 2013. He has also been a Board & Executive committee member of GSMA, (the global forum bringing together nearly 800 global mobile operators); Board member of Indus Towers (world’s largest telecom tower company with a portfolio of more than 1 lakh towers). Presently, Sanjay is an active member on the board of Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd and PVR Limited. He was declared the “Telecom person of the year” at the Voice and Data Telecom Leadership Awards 2012.

Prior to joining the Bharti Group, Sanjay worked with Xerox India as Director-Operations Support. He spent 14 years with the global Document management company, handling a range of key portfolios, ranging from Sales & Marketing to General management functions.  He began his professional career as an Executive Trainee with Jay Engineering Works Ltd., the manufacturers of Usha fans and sewing machines, in 1983.

Sanjay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce (Hons.) from Delhi University, an MBA from Cranfield School of Management (UK) and is a Graduate of The Wharton Advanced Management Program.