Google has appointed Preeti Lobana as the new country manager and VP for its India operations, succeeding Sanjay Gupta, who was promoted to president of the Asia-Pacific region in July. Lobana will be instrumental in advancing Google's strategy to leverage AI across its customer base.
According to TechCrunch, NDTV, and Tech in Asia, before joining Google in 2016, Lobana had a substantial career in banking, with roles at NatWest, American Express, and Standard Chartered. Meanwhile, Roma Datta Chobey, who previously held the position of interim chief, will resume managing the company's digital business unit.
"A seasoned Googler with eight years of experience as Vice President of customer-centric solutions, Preeti will now spearhead Google India's sales and operations, driving the company's commitment to India's burgeoning digital economy," according to Google's press release.
Lobana wrote in a LinkedIn post that it is a once-in-a-lifetime moment to shape the future with AI, unlocking unprecedented opportunities for businesses to boost productivity, solve critical challenges, and create innovative solutions.
Sanjay Gupta, the president of Asia-Pacific at Google, expressed that India's dynamic digital environment has significantly inspired and driven innovation for the company. He conveyed his enthusiasm for AI's potential transformation, especially with introducing Lobana as the new country manager. By utilizing AI developments such as Gemini 2.0, they aim to enhance digital inclusion and open up remarkable economic opportunities for every Indian.
India is a crucial market for Google, which has invested substantial funds to bring millions of Indians online and support the digital transformation of local businesses.
In 2020, Google pledged another US$10 billion for development in India. However, the company is facing increasing regulatory challenges in the region. In 2022, India fined Google US$162 million for anticompetitive practices related to Android and imposed an additional penalty of US$113 million for abusing its dominant position with the Google Play Store. Further scrutiny continues as the Indian antitrust regulator launched a new investigation in March, accusing Google of implementing its in-app billing policies unfairly and discriminatorily.
