Tata Communications Appoints Former Airtel Executive Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as CEO-Designate

Tata Communications, the telecom and digital services arm of the Tata Group, has announced a major leadership change along with solid financial results for the third quarter. The company has named Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as its new Managing Director and CEO-designate, while also reporting a sharp rise in profit. The performance highlights the firm’s focus on data-driven growth, better margins, and a strong order pipeline.

Ganesh Lakshminarayan Appointed MD & CEO Designate

Tata Communications has appointed Ganesh Lakshminarayanan as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer-designate. He is currently the Managing Director and Group Vice-President for ServiceNow in India and the SAARC region. Ganesh will take charge after receiving the required regulatory approvals.

The current MD and CEO, A S Lakshminarayanan, is set to retire on April 13, marking the end of his tenure with the company.

Strong Profit Growth in Q3 FY26

For the quarter ended December 2025, Tata Communications reported a net profit of ₹365 crore. This is a sharp increase of 54.3 per cent compared to the same period last year. The company said the rise in profit was supported by improving margins and a healthy order book.

Revenue Shows Steady Year-on-Year Rise

Revenue from operations for the quarter stood at ₹6,188.97 crore, showing a growth of 6.7 per cent year-on-year. In the previous year’s third quarter, revenue was ₹5,798.07 crore. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, revenue also increased slightly from ₹6,099.75 crore.

Ebitda Improves, Margins See Minor Dip

The company’s Ebitda rose 4 per cent year-on-year to ₹1,228 crore, compared to ₹1,181 crore in the same quarter last year. However, Ebitda margins declined by 52 basis points to 19.8 per cent during the quarter.

Exceptional Cost Due to New Labour Codes

Tata Communications recorded an exceptional expense of ₹60.98 crore during the quarter. This cost is linked to the implementation of new Labour Codes. The expense arose from a revaluation of gratuity and long-term employee benefits due to changes in wage definitions. Under the new rules, basic wages must be at least 50 per cent of an employee’s total cost-to-company.

Management Commentary on Performance

Commenting on the results, outgoing CEO A S Lakshminarayanan said the company’s performance reflects a disciplined focus on data-led growth. He added that investments in capability building are now resulting in stronger products and better execution for customers.