The GSMA has confirmed that Vivek Badrinath will replace Mats Granryd as director general next year.

Vivek will begin the role on April 1, 2025, around a month after next year's Mobile World Congress event.

Granryd announced his planned departure as director general in June. He's held the role since 2015 and has extended his contract at the global mobile body twice.

Badrinath was previously CEO of Vantage Towers, a role he held for three years until May 2023.

“I’m proud and honored to be joining the GSMA at such an exciting time in the industry’s development,” said Vivek Badrinath. “I look forward to working with the GSMA board, its members, and the leadership team to extend and amplify the positive impact of the mobile ecosystem for people, industry, and society globally.”

Badrinath was also regional CEO of Africa, Middle East, and Asia Pacific at Vodafone, and has held leadership positions at Orange, including deputy CEO in 2013.

The GSMA was set up in 1995 as the 'GSM MoU Association' to support and promote mobile operators using the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard for cellular networks.

The GSMA confirmed that Granryd will become a special advisor to the board for the remainder of 2025.