SINGAPORE — In a major leadership shift within the global AI landscape, Kiran Mani has resigned as the CEO of JioStar to join OpenAI as its Managing Director for Asia-Pacific.
Based out of Singapore, Mani will assume his new role in June 2026, reporting directly to OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer, Jason Kwon. The appointment marks a strategic move by OpenAI to scale the adoption of generative AI technologies across high-growth markets, particularly in India and Southeast Asia.
Officer Profile
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Designation: Managing Director (MD), Asia-Pacific
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Organization: OpenAI
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Appointee: Kiran Mani
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Previous Role: CEO, JioStar (Joint venture between Reliance and Disney Star)
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Experience: 13+ years at Google (GM for Android & Google Play, APAC); former roles at Microsoft and IBM.
Strategic Mandate
Mani is tasked with spearheading OpenAI’s expansion beyond the US and Europe. His primary focus will be:
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Market Localization: Adapting AI offerings for diverse linguistic and enterprise needs in Asia.
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Partnerships: Forging strategic alliances with regional tech giants and governments.
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Competitive Growth: Scaling enterprise demand to compete with rivals like Google and Anthropic in populous markets.
The transition from India’s streaming ecosystem to the frontier of artificial intelligence underscores the intensifying global race for AI leadership in the Eastern hemisphere.
