Another Exit: Google Loses Second India Policy Chief in Two Years

• Sreenivasa Reddy resigned as Google’s head of public policy in India, marking the second departure from the role in two years.
• Google appointed Iarla Flynn, its policy head for northern Europe, as the interim policy lead for India.

Google’s head of public policy in India, Sreenivasa Reddy, has resigned, a company spokesperson confirmed to Reuters on Thursday. This marks the second departure from the role in approximately two years.

Reddy, who previously held executive positions at Microsoft and Apple in India, joined Google in September 2023. His tenure coincided with a period of heightened regulatory scrutiny as Google faced multiple antitrust cases while expanding its presence in sectors such as digital payments and video streaming through YouTube.

Reddy “is no longer associated with the company,” a Google spokesperson stated, without providing further details on his departure.

In response to the leadership gap, Google has appointed Iarla Flynn, its policy head for northern Europe, as the interim policy lead for India.

An internal memo seen by Reuters emphasized the company’s commitment to the Indian market, stating,

“India is a crucial market for Google, and we are deeply committed to its success.”

Reddy did not respond to repeated phone calls from Reuters regarding his exit. His departure follows that of his predecessor, Archana Gulati, a former Indian antitrust official who resigned in 2022 just five months after taking on the role.

Policy positions are of strategic importance for major technology companies in India, where firms like Google navigate complex regulatory landscapes and interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. The country is a vital growth market for Google’s parent company, Alphabet, as the majority of Indian smartphones run on the Android operating system.

Amid regulatory challenges, Google continues to expand its AI offerings in India and has recently moved to manufacture its Pixel smartphones locally, further solidifying its investment in the region.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah