OpenAI Appoints Prabhjeet Singh as Managing Director for India

Jyoti Rathi - Kolkata Bureau Jun 27, 2026 1,750 Views

OpenAI has appointed former Uber India President Prabhjeet Singh as its first Managing Director for India. The IIT-IIM alumnus will lead the company’s expansion in the country starting September 2026, focusing on enterprise adoption, regulatory strategy, and partnerships as India becomes a priority market for the AI firm.

The former Uber India and South Asia President will spearhead the AI giant's strategic growth, regulatory engagement, and enterprise adoption across the country.

Strategic Leadership for India’s AI Evolution

OpenAI officially announced on June 27, 2026, the appointment of Prabhjeet Singh as its first Managing Director for India. A veteran of the technology and mobility sectors, Singh will step into his new role in September, marking a significant milestone in OpenAI’s efforts to deepen its operational footprint in one of its most critical global markets.

Reporting directly to Kiran Mani, OpenAI's Managing Director for Asia Pacific, Singh will oversee the company's performance across key pillars, including consumer growth, enterprise adoption, strategic partnerships, and public policy engagement. The move comes as India continues to emerge as a powerhouse for AI innovation, with the country ranking as one of the largest markets for ChatGPT usage and API integration globally.

A Proven Track Record in Navigating Complex Markets

Prabhjeet Singh brings nearly 11 years of leadership experience from Uber, where he most recently served as the President for India and South Asia. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, digital payments, and large-scale operational challenges. His experience at Uber is viewed as a strategic asset for OpenAI, particularly as the company seeks to align its products with India’s evolving data governance frameworks and AI regulations.

Before his decade-long stint at Uber, Singh spent over nine years at McKinsey & Company, rising to the position of Associate Partner. An alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and IIM Ahmedabad, Singh has consistently been recognized for his ability to scale digital transformations across sectors including financial services and consumer technology.

OpenAI’s Growing India Footprint

The appointment of an India-based Managing Director reflects OpenAI’s shift toward a more localized, long-term strategy. The company, which opened its first office in New Delhi in November 2025, is actively building out its physical presence with plans for additional facilities in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

According to officials, OpenAI is viewing India not merely as a product distribution hub but as a center for infrastructure and ecosystem development. This includes the company's significant data center collaboration with the Tata Group, aimed at building long-term infrastructure capacity. Singh’s mandate will be to translate this groundwork into tangible market execution, supporting India’s developers, startups, and public sector institutions in unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence.

Impact on the Competitive AI Landscape

The arrival of a dedicated leadership team places OpenAI in direct competition with other global AI labs, such as Anthropic, which recently hired former Microsoft India head Irina Ghose to lead its own regional operations. For Indian businesses and developers, this rivalry is expected to accelerate the availability of enterprise-grade AI tools and foster more localized partnerships, as both companies race to secure their position in the world's most populous digital economy.

Key Facts at a Glance

New Leadership: Prabhjeet Singh named Managing Director for OpenAI India.
Start Date: Singh will officially join the organization in September 2026.
Mandate: Oversight of consumer growth, enterprise AI adoption, and regulatory/policy engagement.
Market Scale: India is currently OpenAI’s second-largest market by user volume, trailing only the United States.
Background: IIT-IIM alumnus and former President of Uber India and South Asia.

FAQ

1. What will Prabhjeet Singh’s role at OpenAI be?

As Managing Director for India, Singh will be the company’s most senior leader in the country, responsible for business operations, policy engagement, and fostering partnerships with enterprises and government bodies.

2. Why was Prabhjeet Singh chosen for this position?

OpenAI selected Singh due to his extensive experience in scaling businesses within India’s complex regulatory and digital payments landscape during his decade at Uber.

3. When will OpenAI’s India leadership be fully operational?

Singh will join the company in September 2026. OpenAI has already been scaling its presence, having opened its first New Delhi office in November 2025.

4. How does this appointment affect Indian AI startups and developers?

The appointment is expected to facilitate deeper collaboration and support for India’s AI ecosystem, helping startups and enterprises leverage OpenAI’s models more effectively within the local market context.