Meta India chief Devanathan to lead OpenAI's Southeast Asia expansion

Sandhya Devanathan, the outgoing head of Meta India, is set to join OpenAI in a newly created regional leadership position covering Southeast Asia and Australia. Based in Singapore, Devanathan will oversee critical areas including consumer growth, enterprise adoption, partnerships, regulatory engagement and operations across the region.

The move represents a significant development in the competitive landscape for AI talent in Asia, as OpenAI expands its footprint beyond the United States. Devanathan's appointment underscores the AI company's ambitions to establish deeper roots in one of the world's fastest-growing digital markets.

Devanathan's tenure at Meta, one of the world's largest technology firms, positioned her as a prominent figure in India's tech industry. Her experience navigating India's complex regulatory environment and managing large-scale consumer operations is expected to prove valuable as OpenAI scales its presence across the broader Asia-Pacific region.

The appointment comes as AI companies intensify competition to establish market leadership in Southeast Asia, where digital adoption is accelerating rapidly. OpenAI's decision to place regional oversight in Singapore reflects the city-state's strategic importance as a tech hub and headquarters for numerous Asia-focused corporate operations.

Devanathan's move follows a period of significant executive changes across major technology companies as competition for AI expertise intensifies globally. Her transition to OpenAI signals the growing focus major technology firms are placing on Asia's emerging artificial intelligence market.