Singapore – Google has appointed Nitin Gajria as Managing Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier Markets at Google Asia Pacific, the company announced today.
In the role, Gajria will lead Google’s commercial strategy to help the region scale digitalisation and accelerate AI-led growth.
The appointment comes as Google points to strong appetite for artificial intelligence in Southeast Asia, which it describes as one of the world’s most tech-optimistic regions.
Active users of Google’s Gemini app in the region have more than doubled over the past year, according to the company. Consumer AI interest, meanwhile, is running three times higher than the global average.
Google says the appointment builds on its recent strategic investments in the region. These include expanding its footprint in frontier markets such as Pakistan and establishing an Applied AI Lab in Vietnam.
Gajria brings more than 25 years of experience to the position, Google says. He most recently led the company’s Publisher Partnerships across Asia Pacific.
Before that, he spent four years leading Google’s investments across Sub-Saharan Africa. He has also headed the company’s Large Customer Sales (LCS) business in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Outlining his outlook for the role, Nitin said, “Over the years, I have seen Southeast Asia and the South Asia Frontier Markets go from strength to strength and it’s clear that the diversity, dynamism, and entrepreneurial energy here remain unmatched.”
“As AI unlocks new possibilities, the opportunity to accelerate our digital economies has never been greater – from democratising access to learning, helping local businesses scale, to enabling communities to solve distinct, real-world challenges. I’m excited to step into this role and partner closely with our teams, partners, and customers on-ground to help turn this momentum into shared, lasting progress for everyone,” added Nitin.
