SINGAPORE (Diya TV) — OpenAI has appointed Kiran Mani as managing director for Asia-Pacific, signaling a stronger push into one of the fastest-growing regions for artificial intelligence adoption. Mani will join the ChatGPT maker in June and relocate to Singapore, where the company operates its regional hub. He will report to Jason Kwon, according to a Bloomberg report.
The appointment comes as OpenAI accelerates its global expansion strategy, with a sharp focus on Asia-Pacific markets. The company aims to build deeper partnerships and expand its enterprise footprint across countries such as India, Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
By hiring a senior executive with deep regional experience, OpenAI is shifting toward localized leadership. This move allows the company to respond faster to market demands and regulatory needs. Mani will oversee business strategy, partnerships, and market expansion across the region. His role will also include working closely with governments, developers, and enterprises adopting generative AI.
Mani joins OpenAI from JioStar, where he led the company’s digital business. The venture operates streaming platform JioHotstar and manages a wide portfolio of television and digital media assets.
He brings more than two decades of experience in digital media, technology, and consumer internet sectors. At JioStar, Mani drove product innovation, user growth, and digital strategy. He helped scale the platform in India’s highly competitive streaming market. His experience in building large-scale platforms and managing partnerships across telecom and media industries is expected to play a key role in OpenAI’s regional growth.
OpenAI has seen strong demand for its AI models across the Asia-Pacific. Businesses and developers increasingly use tools like ChatGPT for coding, customer support, content creation, and automation.
Governments in the region are also exploring AI adoption to improve public services and digital infrastructure. This growing demand makes the Asia-Pacific a critical market for AI companies. OpenAI faces strong competition from rivals such as Google and Anthropic, along with several Chinese AI firms. Many of these companies invest heavily in local infrastructure and customized AI solutions to meet regional needs.
India has become a central focus in OpenAI’s expansion plans. The company recently launched its “OpenAI for India” initiative to support startups, developers, and enterprises. OpenAI said India already ranks among the largest user bases for ChatGPT globally. The next phase of growth will depend on building stronger local partnerships and infrastructure.
As part of this strategy, the company plans to expand its presence in India by opening new offices and increasing hiring. It also works with local partners to develop data-center capacity within the country. This approach helps address data residency requirements and reduces latency for users. It also strengthens trust among enterprises and government clients.
Mani’s appointment highlights OpenAI’s shift toward regional leadership rather than managing Asia-Pacific operations mainly from the United States. This change reflects the growing importance of local expertise in scaling AI products. Companies across the Asia-Pacific want AI solutions tailored to their languages, regulations, and business environments.
