Google has named Preeti Lobana as the new leader of its India business, filling a significant role that had been vacant since Sanjay Gupta’s promotion to Asia-Pacific president in July.
Previously serving as the vice president of advertising technology at Google, Lobana steps into her new position as the company intensifies efforts to promote its artificial intelligence (AI) products in India, a critical market for the tech giant.
Lobana, who joined Google in 2016, brings a wealth of experience from both the tech and banking sectors, having previously held roles at NatWest, American Express, and Standard Chartered.
India remains a strategic focus for Google, which has invested heavily in the region to bring hundreds of millions of people online and digitize local businesses. In 2020, the company announced a $10 billion investment commitment to India.
However, Google faces growing regulatory challenges in the world’s second-largest internet market. In 2022, Indian authorities fined the company $162 million for anti-competitive practices on Android, followed by another $113 million penalty related to the Google Play Store.
Earlier this year, India’s antitrust regulator launched an investigation into Google’s in-app billing policies, accusing the company of implementing them in an “unfair” and “discriminatory manner.”
Roma Datta Chobey, who served as interim head during the vacancy, will return to her role leading Google’s digital business unit.
Lobana expressed her excitement about the new role in a LinkedIn post, stating, “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.”
As Lobana takes the reins, her leadership is expected to shape Google’s strategy in a market where digital transformation and regulatory hurdles intersect.
