After more than 16.6 years with Bharti Airtel, communications leader Sunitha Simon has announced her departure from the telecom company, bringing to a close a career marked by several major brand, technology, and consumer communication initiatives.
Simon shared the news through a LinkedIn post, describing Airtel as her “heartbeat, hustle and home” throughout her journey. She reflected on leading communications for key milestones, including the rollout of 3G and 5G services, Airtel’s partnership with Apple, the launch of AI-powered offerings, and what she described as the world’s first spam protection solution.
Most recently, Simon served as General Manager and Communications Lead (B2C), a position she assumed in June 2022. In this role, she led integrated communications for Airtel’s consumer business, overseeing national media strategy, brand visibility, and stakeholder engagement.
Among her key contributions were developing the communications strategy for Airtel’s nationwide 5G rollout, launching India’s first free AI tool for telecom customers, and supporting the global rollout of the company’s spam protection solution.
Before this role, Simon was the National Communications Lead for Homes and DTH, where she managed media relations and thought leadership for Airtel’s broadband and television businesses. Earlier, she led communications across South and East India, driving campaigns around the Airtel Hyderabad Marathon, partnerships with films such as Baahubali, and several regional brand initiatives.
Simon joined Airtel in 2010 as a Senior Executive in Corporate Communications for the then Andhra Pradesh telecom circle. Over the years, she progressed through multiple leadership roles to become one of the company’s senior communications executives.
Before joining Airtel, she worked in communications roles at CFCA and Nandan Biomatrix. She began her professional career as a radio jockey and content programmer and later completed a postgraduate programme in marketing from the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode.
In her farewell message, Simon thanked her colleagues, the media, friends, and family for their support. She wrote that while her “recharge ends here”, the “signal bars of gratitude and belonging will forever stay full.”
Neither Simon nor Bharti Airtel has announced her next professional move.
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