From Meta to OpenAI: AI and Regulatory Tensions in Asia‑Pacific

Meta’s India and Southeast Asia Vice President Sandhya Devanathan has joined OpenAI, reporting to Asia‑Pacific Managing Director Kiran Mani from a new base in Singapore.

Leadership Shuffle Across Asia‑Pacific

Devanathan will steer consumer growth, enterprise adoption, and partnerships for OpenAI in Southeast Asia and Australia, while also handling regulatory engagement and regional operations.

Meta’s Regulatory Headwinds in India

■Instagram mistakenly restricted a post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, prompting a summons of Meta executives by Indian authorities.

■The government raised concerns over child‑sexual‑abuse material on Meta platforms; the company reported removal of 160,000 accounts in India over six months.

■Devanathan was directly involved in Meta’s decision‑making process in the country, according to insiders.

OpenAI’s Aggressive Regional Expansion

■Offices opened in Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney, and Delhi over the past two years.

■Prabhjeet Singh, also appointed as OpenAI’s India head, joins after a decade leading Uber’s India and South Asia business.

Meta’s Internal Realignment

■Following Devanathan’s exit, Arun Srinivas, Meta’s India Managing Director, will report directly to Benjamin Joe, the company’s Vice President for Asia‑Pacific.

■The move underscores Meta’s effort to reshape its Asia‑Pacific strategy amid mounting regulatory pressure and intensifying competition.

Kemal Tekin – The Asia‑Pacific remains a hotspot of uncertainty around AI infrastructure and data sovereignty. OpenAI’s rapid foothold in the region presents both opportunities and risks within a tightening regulatory framework. Meta’s loss of a senior executive signals an organizational response to growing scrutiny in India, a factor that could influence regional equity volatility and capital flows into technology firms.