Google Appoints Preeti Lobana as New Country Manager for India, Emphasizing AI-Driven Strategy

Google appoints new India head in AI push

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.

Google appoints Preeti Lobana as country manager and VP for India

Preeti Lobana has been named Google's new country manager and vice president for India. Having spent eight years at Google as vice president of customer-centric solutions, Lobana is well-positioned to lead the company's Indian sales and operations, said the company. Her focus will be on implementing Google's strategy to democratize access to AI and foster innovation throughout India. Lobana's career spans over 30 years in senior leadership roles within the technology and financial sectors. Before joining Google, she held prominent positions at organizations such as NatWest Group, American Express, Standard Chartered Bank, and ANZ Grindlays Bank, developing expertise in business strategy, product management, and operational excellence. Most recently at Google, she served as vice president of gTech, overseeing process, partner, publisher operations, Ads, content, and quality operations on a global scale. Commenting on the appointment, Sanjay Gupta, president of Asia-Pacific, Google, said: India's vibrant digital landscape has always been a source of immense inspiration and innovation for Google. With AI poised to redefine the boundaries of what's possible, I am incredibly excited to welcome my colleague, Preeti, as our new country manager. Her leadership and passion for customer-centricity have fueled impactful solutions for businesses across industries, empowering millions of businesses to thrive in the digital age. Preeti's leadership will be instrumental as we deepen our engagement with India's unique ecosystem, leveraging AI advancements like Gemini 2.0 to accelerate digital inclusion and unlock unprecedented economic opportunities for every Indian. I am confident that her deep market expertise will guide us in shaping a future where technology truly benefits all. In her new role, Preeti will partner deeply with Roma Datta Chobey, who led as the interim country manager and will continue her exceptional leadership as managing director for Google India's Digital Native Industries. Roma's expertise across diverse sectors, from e-commerce and fintech to gaming and media, will be invaluable as we accelerate innovation and growth for these dynamic businesses. Speaking about her appointment, Preeti Lobana said:

Google Appoints Preeti Lobana As Country Manager For India - MEDIANAMA

Google has appointed Preeti Lobana as Country Manager and Vice President (VP) for Google India, Lobana shared in a LinkedIn post on December 16. She was previously the VP for Publishers, Partners, Ads Content Teams, and gTech from November 2021. Lobana has been at Google for eight years since joining as the Director for APAC Customer Experience in 2016. She previously served as the Managing Director and Head of Global Finance Services, India, at NatWest Group and VP of Global Business Services at American Express. "This 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. I'm deeply committed to working with our talented teams and partners to drive economic growth and deliver meaningful value across India," said Lobana about her appointment. She follows former Country Manager Sanjay Gupta, who was promoted to the President of the Asia Pacific region in July this year. The interim Country Manager, Roma Datta Choubey, will be continuing as the Managing Director for Google India. The tech giant held its flagship Google For India event in October this year, announcing a slew of AI-based features targeted towards Indian users. These include launching their AI model Gemini in multiple Indian languages and integrating AI into Google Maps and Google Lens.