Google restructures its government affairs & public policy team in India amid expansion push

Google is restructuring its government affairs and public policy (GAPP) function in India, a move aimed at strengthening its capabilities in a market critical to its future growth strategy, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence (AI), Moneycontrol has learnt.

This move comes on the heels of the
exit of Sreenivasa Reddy as the company’s public policy head
after a short stint of about 16 months.

“India has always been a strategically important market for Google and YouTube, and it plays an increasing role in shaping the future of technology for the world. With the rise of AI and its potential to transform key sectors of the Indian economy, it’s clear that we need to elevate our GAPP capabilities to match this dynamic landscape.” according to an email sent by Wilson White, Google’s head of government affairs and public policy, to the company’s employees on February 25. Moneycontrol has viewed a copy of the email.

As per the email, the restructuring will result in elimination of a few roles while opening new roles to increase capacity and support in the company’s Cloud and YouTube initiatives. Iarla Flynn will continue to serve as the interim lead of the function in the country.

“We recognize that India requires a distinct approach to government affairs…This restructuring will ensure we have the leadership, expertise, and organizational structure to effectively advocate for Google, YouTube and the broader ecosystem in India” White said in the email.

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As part of the restructuring, Google is creating a new Vice President-level role to lead the company’s government affairs and public policy team in India. The executive will report to White and will oversee the entire function in India, with all team members reporting to the person.

“This unified structure will enable greater coordination and ensure a cohesive “One Google” approach to government affairs in this important market…This will ensure we have the leadership capacity and expertise to effectively engage with policymakers at all levels,” White said in the email.

Google is also hiring executives at director-level positions along with public policy professionals to provide research, analytical support, and coordinate on key policy initiatives, such as AI, competition, privacy and security.

White said that these changes are “specifically tailored” to the country’s unique needs and opportunities and the tech giant doesn’t intend to replicate this structure in other markets.

“We are deeply committed to being India’s partner on its digital transformation journey. Our investments in AI infrastructure, research, and talent in India, as well as our strategic collaborations with state governments and our new campus facilities, all demonstrate our long-term commitment to India” the email read.

With over a billion users, India is Google’s largest market in terms of user base for its products. The tech giant has also invested billions of dollars in the country to help bring hundreds of millions of people and local businesses online in recent years.

That said, Google is currently fighting antitrust challenges against the business practices of its businesses such as Android and Play Store in India.

The company is also facing antitrust probes from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for alleged abuse of dominance in its other businesses such as smart television market, and news aggregation.

Google India also recently saw a change in its top management with Preeti Lobana appointed as its new country manager and vice president of its India operations in December 2024. She took over from Sanjay Gupta, who was promoted earlier this year as the company’s president of the Asia Pacific region.