#e4mBreaking: Kiran Mani quits JioStar to join OpenAI, to lead Asia-Pacific operations
Mani will assume the role of Managing Director for Asia-Pacific in June and will be based out of Singapore
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Published: Mar 25, 2026 12:35 PM | 2 min read
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- OpenAI has appointed Kiran Mani, former CEO of JioStar, as Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, effective June, based in Singapore.
- Mani's transition from the streaming sector to the AI industry reflects OpenAI's focus on expanding its presence in high-growth markets outside the US and Europe.
- His extensive experience includes over 13 years at Google and previous roles at Microsoft and IBM, positioning him to influence OpenAI's regional strategy.
- The appointment comes amid increasing competition in the generative AI space, particularly in populous markets like India, which are crucial for user growth and enterprise demand.
OpenAI has hired Kiran Mani, Chief Executive Officer of JioStar, to spearhead its Asia-Pacific expansion. Mani’s departure marks a notable transition from India’s fast-growing streaming ecosystem to the rapidly evolving AI sector.
e4m has learnt that in an internal email to employees, Uday Shankar, Vice Chairman of JioStar, announced the development.
Mani will assume the role of Managing Director for Asia-Pacific in June, and will be based out of Singapore. He will report to Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon. The appointment underscores OpenAI’s sharpening focus on high-growth markets across the region, particularly as it looks to deepen its presence beyond the US and Europe.
The move comes at a time when OpenAI is locked in a fierce race with global rivals such as Anthropic and Google to scale adoption of generative AI technologies. Asia-Pacific, led by populous markets like India, represents a critical battleground, offering vast user bases and growing enterprise demand for AI-driven solutions.
Mani brings with him over two decades of experience in technology and digital ecosystems.
Prior to JioStar, he spent more than 13 years at Google, where he rose to become general manager for Android and Google Play across Asia-Pacific and Japan. His earlier stints include roles at Microsoft and IBM.
His appointment is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping OpenAI’s regional strategy as the company accelerates efforts to localise its offerings, forge partnerships, and tap into the next wave of AI adoption across Asia-Pacific.
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