Kiran Mani in an office setting with a global AI network map.
OpenAI has appointed Kiran Mani, former CEO of JioStar, as the Managing Director to lead its Asia-Pacific operations, according to a Bloomberg report. Mani will be based in Singapore and report to CFO Jason Kwon.
Mani’s appointment is part of OpenAI’s strategy to expand its global presence, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. He brings over two decades of experience, including leadership roles at Microsoft, Google, and IBM. At Google, he managed sales in India and oversaw Asia Pacific & Japan operations. He also serves as a board member of IIT Madras.
This move aligns with OpenAI’s broader expansion plans, including a potential doubling of its headcount to 8,000. Asia-Pacific is a key area of focus for the company, with significant investments planned for India. OpenAI intends to open offices in Mumbai and Bengaluru by the end of 2026.
At the ‘India AI Impact Summit 2026,’ OpenAI announced ‘OpenAI for India’ and noted that India has over 100 million weekly ChatGPT users. The company also announced a partnership with the Tata Group to build AI infrastructure in India, starting with 100 MW and scaling up to 1 GW. Additionally, OpenAI is partnering with JioHotstar to integrate in-stream commerce features.
Prior to the summit, OpenAI partnered with Indian educational institutions, including IIT Delhi and IIM Ahmedabad, to roll out ChatGPT Edu and AI training programs across campuses.
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