OpenAI appoints Kiran Mani as the managing director to lead APAC growth
OpenAI appoints Kiran Mani as Managing Director for Asia Pacific and Japan, a move that signals the company's growing commitment to one of the world's fastest-expanding artificial intelligence markets. The appointment comes as demand for generative AI continues to rise across enterprises, developers, governments and consumers.
In his new role, Mani will oversee business operations, growth strategy, strategic partnerships and ecosystem development across the region. The decision reflects OpenAI's focus on expanding its regional presence while supporting broader AI adoption initiatives.
A stronger push into Asia Pacific
The appointment highlights OpenAI's efforts to strengthen leadership in Asia Pacific and Japan as organisations increasingly explore AI-driven transformation. The company is looking to deepen engagement with businesses, developers and policymakers while building stronger local ecosystems.
As adoption accelerates across sectors such as software development, healthcare, education, financial services and customer experience, regional leadership is becoming increasingly important for scaling AI initiatives effectively.
A leader with deep technology experience
Mani brings experience across technology, digital platforms and enterprise transformation. Most recently, he served as Chief Executive Officer of JioStar, where he led the merger of Viacom18 and Star India while overseeing major digital platforms.
Before that, he spent more than 13 years at Google in leadership positions across Asia Pacific and Japan, including serving as General Manager for Android and Google Play. His career also includes roles at IBM and Ogilvy, giving him experience across both enterprise technology and digital ecosystems.
Speaking about the appointment, Mani described the role as the most purposeful mission of his career and emphasized the importance of making artificial intelligence more accessible, affordable and useful for a wider audience.
Why the move matters
The appointment comes at a time when enterprises are moving beyond AI experimentation and focusing on practical deployment. OpenAI's regional expansion strategy appears aimed at supporting this transition through partnerships, ecosystem growth and closer engagement with stakeholders across Asia Pacific.
The development also reflects increasing competition among global AI companies seeking stronger local leadership and market presence.
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