Gaurav Sharma
About Gaurav Sharma
Gaurav Sharma is the Vice President of Business Development and M&A at Bharti Enterprise, with extensive experience in investment banking and M&A advisory roles in India.
Work at Bharti Enterprises
Gaurav Sharma serves as the Vice President of Business Development and M&A at Bharti Enterprises. He has held this position since 2016, contributing to various strategic initiatives within the organization. His role involves overseeing mergers and acquisitions, as well as business development activities. Notably, he played a significant role in the US$16 billion acquisition of Indus Towers by Bharti Infratel, which established the largest telecom tower company outside of China. His leadership has been instrumental in closing strategic investments and partnerships that enhance the company's market position.
Previous Work Experience
Before joining Bharti Enterprises, Gaurav Sharma held several key positions in investment banking and advisory roles. He worked as Vice President of Investment Banking at Avendus Capital from 2015 to 2016. Prior to that, he served as Vice President in M&A Advisory at Axis Capital Ltd. from 2013 to 2015. His career began at ENAM, where he was an Assistant Vice President in Investment Banking from 2008 to 2013. Additionally, he gained early experience through internships at SUN Group Private Equity and community work at The Nand and Jeet Khemka Foundation in 2007.
Education and Expertise
Gaurav Sharma holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) with a focus on Finance from S.P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, where he studied from 2006 to 2008. He also earned a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, completing his degree from 2000 to 2004. His educational background provides a strong foundation in both technical and financial disciplines, enhancing his expertise in business development and mergers and acquisitions.
Achievements in M&A and Investment
Throughout his career, Gaurav Sharma has achieved significant milestones in mergers and acquisitions. He was instrumental in raising US$235 million from Carlyle for Airtel’s data center business, Nxtra Data. Additionally, he led the divestment of telecom towers in several African countries, including Malawi, Madagascar, Gabon, and Chad, to Helios Towers. His efforts secured a US$300 million equity investment from TPG and MasterCard for Airtel Africa’s mobile money business, which was valued at $2.65 billion. He also played a key role in major acquisitions during the Indian telecom consolidation from 2017 to 2019.