Varun Bhardwaj
About Varun Bhardwaj
Varun Bhardwaj serves as the Head of Business Planning & Consumer Insights at Airtel, where he has worked since 2017. He has a strong educational background in marketing and engineering, along with extensive experience in the telecommunications industry, having held key positions at Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices, Vodafone, and others.
Current Role at Airtel
Varun Bhardwaj holds the position of Head Business Planning & Consumer Insights at Airtel, a role he has occupied since 2017. In this capacity, he focuses on strategic business planning and consumer insights, contributing to the company's growth in the Chandigarh Area, India. His responsibilities include leading initiatives that enhance customer experiences and drive revenue growth.
Previous Experience in Telecommunications
Prior to his current role, Varun Bhardwaj worked at several prominent telecommunications companies. He served as the CLM Lead at Vodafone from 2008 to 2015, where he focused on usage, revenue, acquisitions, and data. He also held the position of Product Head - Prepaid at Tata Teleservices Ltd from 2015 to 2017, overseeing prepaid product strategies in the Chandigarh Area. Earlier in his career, he was a VAS Product Manager at Reliance Communications from 2006 to 2008.
Education and Expertise
Varun Bhardwaj has a strong educational background in business and engineering. He earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Marketing from the University Business School at HP University, completing his studies from 2012 to 2020. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same institution, achieved between 2004 and 2006. Additionally, he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Computer Science from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, from 2000 to 2004. His foundational education includes a Secondary School Certificate (SSC) from St. Edwards School, Shimla.
Achievements and Recognition
Varun Bhardwaj has received multiple awards for his contributions to the telecommunications sector. He was honored with the High Achiever Award for H2 (2017-18) for the successful implementation of UL Recharges. He also earned the High Achiever Award for FY-19 for his role in micromarketing and outperforming Jio in key metrics in the 4G space. Additionally, he won the CEO Award from the Chairman Category for his success in the 4G battle against Jio in H1 (2018-19).
Leadership and Team Skills
Varun Bhardwaj has demonstrated strong leadership and team motivation skills throughout his career. He recorded a Gallup Score of Team Orientation for FY 2016-17 at 4.97 out of 5, reflecting his effectiveness in leading teams and fostering collaboration. He has led large-scale projects aimed at transformation and revenue growth, utilizing strategic thinking to enhance product and customer experiences.