Sandhya Devanathan, Meta’s vice president for India and Southeast Asia, is leaving the social media company after more than a decade to join OpenAI. She will begin in October as vice president for Southeast Asia and Australia, based in Singapore and reporting to Kiran Mani, OpenAI’s managing director for Asia-Pacific. This newly created role gives her responsibility for consumer growth, enterprise adoption, partnerships, regulatory engagement and operations across the region.
A Decade of Leadership at Meta
Devanathan joined Meta in 2016, when the company’s Singapore office had approximately 300 employees. Over the next ten years she worked across ecommerce and gaming in Asia-Pacific, helped build Meta’s businesses in Singapore and Vietnam, and contributed to its ecommerce initiatives across Southeast Asia. She assumed responsibility for Meta’s gaming business in Asia-Pacific in 2020 before being appointed vice president and head of Meta India in late 2022, formally starting in January 2023.
Milestones Across Emerging Markets
Devanathan highlighted several milestones from her time at Meta, including the adoption of WhatsApp for government citizen services in India. She also noted that small businesses in Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand have used Meta’s apps as digital storefronts and that startups have scaled into unicorns in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Reflecting on her departure, she said she was proud of the work her teams have done in a rapidly evolving industry.
OpenAI’s Asia-Pacific Expansion
OpenAI has accelerated its Asia-Pacific expansion over the past two years, opening offices in Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, Sydney and Delhi. Devanathan will become OpenAI’s most senior executive covering Southeast Asia and Australia, with a mandate that spans consumer adoption, enterprise growth and strategic partnerships. Her responsibilities also include regulatory engagement and regional operations, areas that are increasingly important as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates.
Regional Leadership and Commercial Priorities
The move is part of a broader leadership buildout at OpenAI. Kiran Mani was appointed managing director for Asia-Pacific in March, and Prabhjeet Singh, former president of Uber India and South Asia, joined in June to lead India. OpenAI has also opened its first New Delhi office in November 2025 and has repeatedly described India as a key market with rapid AI uptake.
Southeast Asia’s Growing User Base
OpenAI’s Southeast Asia focus is supported by strong user demand in the region. The company has said Indonesia and the Philippines are among its top ten markets globally by ChatGPT users. The newly created role covers markets with more than 600 million people, reinforcing the commercial significance of Southeast Asia and Australia to OpenAI’s growth plans.
Meta’s Succession Plans
Devanathan announced her departure on LinkedIn on Friday, describing the decision as bittersweet while not initially revealing her next employer. At Meta, Arun Srinivas, who was appointed managing director and country head for India in 2025, is expected to continue leading the India business. Benjamin Joe, Meta’s regional vice president for Asia-Pacific, said Srinivas would join his leadership team and take Meta India forward.
Devanathan’s transition from Meta to OpenAI underscores the intense competition for senior talent in consumer technology and artificial intelligence. Her experience across India and Southeast Asia aligns with OpenAI’s goal of expanding commercial adoption and policy engagement in fast-growing digital markets. As she begins her new role in October, the appointment signals a significant regional commitment for OpenAI.