Google has appointed Nitin Gajria as Managing Director for Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier Markets, bringing the senior executive back to the region where he began his Google career more than 12 years ago.
Gajria will oversee Google's regional growth strategy, commercial partnerships and developer and creator ecosystems, with a focus on helping businesses scale digitalisation and accelerate AI-led growth across emerging markets.
Regional leadership
Gajria moves into the role after serving as Google's Managing Director, Partnerships, Asia Pacific since 2023. In that position, he led the company's publisher and creator partnerships and monetisation business across the region.
His more than 12-year career at Google has included several regional leadership roles. From 2019 to 2023, he served as Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, while between 2016 and 2019 he led Google's large customer sales business across Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.
Gajria began his Google career in Singapore as Head of Brand Solutions for India and Southeast Asia, working across brand advertising and content solutions for YouTube and Google's digital advertising technology.
AI-led growth
His appointment comes as Google looks to expand its presence across markets where digital adoption and interest in artificial intelligence are increasing.
According to Google, active users of its Gemini app in Southeast Asia have more than doubled over the past year, while consumer interest in AI is three times higher than the global average.
Gajria said the region's evolving digital ecosystem presents opportunities beyond technology adoption.
"What excites me most isn't just the technology - it's what people in this region will do with it," he said, adding that he is looking forward to working with Google's employees, partners, developers and creators across the region.
He also highlighted the region's diversity and entrepreneurial activity as AI adoption grows.
“Over the years, I have seen Southeast Asia and the South Asia frontier markets go from strength to strength and it’s clear that the diversity, dynamism, and entrepreneurial energy here remain unmatched," Gajria said.
He added, "As AI unlocks new possibilities, the opportunity to accelerate our digital economies has never been greater – from democratising access to learning, helping local businesses scale, to enabling communities to solve distinct, real-world challenges. I’m excited to step into this role and partner closely with our teams, partners, and customers on-ground to help turn this momentum into shared, lasting progress for everyone."
Leadership experience
Gajria brings more than 25 years of professional experience to the role, including senior marketing and business leadership positions before joining Google.
Prior to Google, he was Regional Marketing Director for Enfa A+ at Mead Johnson Nutrition, where he worked across brand innovation, media, digital and CRM capabilities in the region.
He also spent more than 11 years at Procter & Gamble in brand and business leadership roles across Singapore and Australia, working on brands including Olay, SK-II, Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Ariel and Safeguard across ASEAN, Australasia and India.
The appointment follows Google's recent regional leadership changes. Earlier this month, Sapna Chadha was elevated to Vice President of Asia Pacific Ads Go-To-Market Strategy and Operations after nearly four years leading Google's Southeast Asia and South Asia frontier business. In her expanded role, Chadha oversees business strategy, growth priorities, resource allocation, product commercialisation, sales operations and business intelligence for Google's advertising business across Asia pacific.