In a move that reflects the growing importance of Asia Pacific in the global AI landscape, Kiran Mani has stepped down as CEO – Digital at JioStar to take on a new role at OpenAI.
He is set to join OpenAI as Managing Director for Asia Pacific in June and will relocate to Singapore, the company’s regional hub. In his new role, Mani will work closely with Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon, as OpenAI sharpens its focus on expanding across high-growth markets like India and the broader APAC region.
At JioStar, Mani played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s digital journey. He led the streaming business end-to-end—overseeing strategy, product innovation, and platform operations—at a time when India’s digital consumption story was rapidly evolving.
His move to OpenAI signals a larger shift underway in the global tech ecosystem, where companies are increasingly investing in leadership with deep regional expertise to scale in emerging markets.
With over two decades of experience, Mani brings a strong blend of product, platform, and ecosystem thinking. Before JioStar, he spent more than 13 years at Google, where he led Android and Google Play across Asia Pacific and Japan—driving growth in some of the world’s most dynamic digital markets. His earlier stints at Microsoft and IBM further add to his cross-industry perspective.
At OpenAI, Mani is expected to focus on strengthening regional partnerships, expanding market presence, and driving adoption across APAC—at a time when AI is moving from experimentation to real-world deployment.
Meanwhile, JioStar is yet to announce a successor for the role.
