Telecom czar Sunil Bharti Mittal has been elected as Chair of GSMA that represents interests of mobile operators worldwide. GSMA named 26-member board to serve for two years beginning January 2017 and elected Mittal, founder and Chairman, Bharti Enterprises, as Chair and re-elected Mari-Noelle Jego-laveissiere, Executive Vice President, Innovation, Orange Group as Deputy Chair. As GSMA Chair, Mittal will oversee the strategic direction of the organisation, which represents nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators as well as more than 300 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, a statement said. “In a relatively brief period of time, mobile has had a transformational impact on individuals, business and societies, contributing significantly to local economies and improving the lives of billions around the world,” he said. Mittal, the first Indian to be elected as Chair of the GSMA, led a delegation of its board members to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. He said: “I am excited about what the next chapter holds for us, as we work to connect everyone and everything to a better future.