Google's head of public policy in India, Sreenivasa Reddy, has resigned, as reported by a company spokesperson on Thursday. This marks the second exit in about two years from a pivotal role in a key market for Google.
Reddy, formerly an executive at Microsoft and Apple in India, had joined Google in September 2023 to drive public policy initiatives during a period of increased antitrust scrutiny and the expansion of services, including payment apps and YouTube.
A Google spokesperson informed Reuters that Reddy "is no longer associated with the company," declining to provide further details. Meanwhile, in an internal communication, Google announced that Iarla Flynn, the policy head for northern Europe, will step in as the interim policy lead for India.
An excerpt from the internal communication stated, "India is a critical market for Google, and we are fully committed to its success," according to Reuters' review.
Despite repeated attempts, Reddy did not respond to phone calls from Reuters. Reddy had taken over from Archana Gulati, a former Indian antitrust official who resigned in 2022, merely five months into her tenure.
Policy positions hold significant importance for major tech firms in India, where Google and others navigate a complex relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration. Given that most smartphones in the country operate on Google's Android system, India is a crucial growth market for the Alphabet-owned company.
Moreover, Google is presently enhancing its artificial intelligence offerings in India and has leveraged the market to manufacture its Pixel smartphones locally.