Mirror Review
March 26, 2026
OpenAI has officially appointed Kiran Mani, the CEO of Digital at JioStar, as its new Managing Director for the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region.
Starting in June 2026, Mani will relocate to Singapore to lead OpenAI’s expansion into fast-growing markets like India, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
This article explores the unique background and career milestones of the man chosen to lead OpenAI’s expansion across Asia.
Who Is Kiran Mani?
Kiran Mani is a seasoned technology executive with over 25 years of experience in building multi-billion dollar businesses.
Before being appointed as the APAC Managing Director of OpenAI, Mani was a crucial figure in Indian media, leading the digital transformation of major streaming platforms.
Here Are 10 Interesting Kiran Mani Facts: The OpenAI APAC Chief
1. A Founding Force at JioStar
Before taking the role of OpenAI APAC chief, Mani served as theCEO of Digital Ventures at Viacom18 and later JioStar. He was the founding CEO of JioHotstar and played a lead role in the merger between Viacom18 and Star India, creating the largest media platform in India.
2. Decades of Leadership at Google
Kiran Mani spent over 13 years at Google in high-impact roles. He served as the General Manager for Android and Google Play across Asia-Pacific and Japan, where he focused on growing the developer ecosystem.
3. Managed Billions in Ad Revenue
During his time in the United States, Mani was the Managing Director for US Retail at Google. In this position, he oversaw more than $5 billion in annual advertising revenue and managed partnerships with the top 30 global advertisers.
4. Background with Tech Giants Microsoft and IBM
Kiran Mani held senior marketing and strategy roles at Microsoft and spent over eight years at IBM, where he rose to Vice President of Strategy and Operations for the ASEAN region.
5. An Accomplished Entrepreneur
Mani is not just a corporate executive; he has an entrepreneurial spirit. He co-founded Fosbury Flop, an ad-tech platform for last-minute media buying, which was eventually acquired by a confidential buyer.
6. Academic Excellence and Finance Expertise
While many tech leaders come from pure engineering backgrounds, Mani is a qualified accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He was a National Merit Scholar and a national topper during his management studies.
7. Global Citizen and Polyglot
Mani brings a truly global perspective to the role of OpenAI Asia-Pacific managing director. He has lived in nine different cities across three continents and is fluent in five languages.
8. Active Angel Investor
Beyond his primary roles, Kiran Mani is an active angel investor and board advisor. He has supported various ventures including Jeevitam, a blue-collar livelihood platform, and Rapture Innovation Labs, which produces high-end headphones.
9. A Philosophy of Mindfulness
Mani follows a distinct leadership philosophy: “Life is beautiful”. He believes that compassion, fun, and serious business should co-exist to create lasting value, and he has a personal passion for mountains and motorcycles.
10. Driving the “OpenAI for India” Initiative
As Kiran Mani exits JioStar, his primary mission will be to deepen OpenAI’s roots in India. He will oversee the “OpenAI for India” program, which aims to build local infrastructure, support developers, and help the country meet data-residency requirements.
End Note
As Openai hires Kiran Mani, it shows how the company views the Asian market.
Now that OpenAI is focusing on APAC expansion like the 1GW AI infrastructure partnership with Tata, appointing a leader like Kiran Mani JioStar CEO, who understands both the local nuances of the tenure and the global scale of Google, is a thoughtful decision.
Maria Isabel Rodrigues
