Meet ChatGPT's new Asia-Pacific boss Kiran Mani: Ex-Google employee who has trekked to Mount Everest base camp twice and loves bikes

As artificial intelligence companies push harder into global markets, Asia-Pacific is fast becoming a key focus area. With rising internet usage, large populations, and growing interest in AI tools, companies are now putting senior leadership in place to guide expansion. In that backdrop, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has made a significant leadership move by appointing Kiran Mani as managing director for Asia-Pacific, a newly created role that underlines its plans for the region.

According to Bloomberg, Mani, currently the chief executive officer of JioStar, is expected to join OpenAI in June. He will relocate to Singapore and report to Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the development, while Mani could not be reached for comment.

The appointment comes as OpenAI competes with players like Anthropic and Google to expand globally. Asia-Pacific, especially countries like India, is being seen as a major growth market given its scale and increasing digital adoption.


OpenAI has already begun building its presence in India. In 2024, it hired its first employee in the country focused on government relations and has been gradually adding to its team. Earlier this year, it also announced a partnership with the Tata Group to develop artificial intelligence technologies, including data centre infrastructure.

From JioStar to OpenAI

Before this move, Mani was leading JioStar, a joint venture between Reliance Industries and The Walt Disney Company. As CEO, he oversaw platforms like JioHotstar and Cricinfo, managing consumer experience, content strategy, and revenue growth.

As per his LinkedIn profile, he was also the founding CEO of JioHotstar and played a role in merging Viacom18 with Star India to form one of the country’s largest media and entertainment platforms. The streaming service has built a user base of over 300 million, driven by cricket content as well as entertainment programming.

A long career across tech giants

Mani brings with him a long career in technology and digital businesses. According to his LinkedIn profile, he spent over 13 years at Google, where he held multiple leadership roles across regions. He served as general manager for Android and Google Play across Asia-Pacific and Japan, focusing on improving user experience and developer growth.

He also worked in senior roles in the United States, overseeing large advertising businesses and global retail partnerships. Before Google, he held positions at Microsoft and IBM, handling marketing, strategy, and operations.

His profile also shows he co-founded an ad-tech startup, Fosbury Flop, which was later acquired.


Beyond corporate roles, Mani is also involved in academic and industry bodies. As per his LinkedIn profile, he serves on the board of the Department of Management Studies at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras. He is also associated with the Internet and Mobile Association of India and the Advertising Standards Council of India in board-level roles.

He has also been active as an angel investor and advisor to startups across sectors such as technology, media, and digital platforms.

Life beyond work

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad website reveals a more personal side of Mani. Away from the boardroom, Mani has lived in nine cities across three continents and speaks five languages. He is also known to be passionate about motorbikes and has completed the Everest Base Camp trek twice, something not many corporate leaders can claim.

He also spends time practising and teaching mindfulness and meditation, and has spoken about the importance of balancing compassion, enjoyment, and serious business in creating long-term value.