Facebook Inc. has finally ended its hunt for Managing Director and head in India and hired Ajit Mohan. He has been working as a chief executive officer for Hotstar, a video streaming subsidiary of Star India.
Ajit Mohan will be looking after Facebook’s relationship with people and the government in India. Although, his role doesn’t include working for Instagram or Whatsapp. He is likely to join in early 2019.
“India is one of the largest and most strategically important countries for Facebook. As we think about what it will take to achieve our mission of bringing people together and building community, we know that investment in India is critical. Ajit’s depth of experience will help us to continue to have a positive impact in India across communities, organizations, businesses and with policymakers,” said David Fischer, vice-president of business and marketing partnerships at Facebook
Reportedly, Facebook Inc. has been finding it difficult to fill the position after the departure of Umang Bedi in October 2015. In the absence of a senior head, Sandeep Bhushan was the acting managing director.
Mohan in a statement reported by Live Mint said, “I am delighted to take on the mantle of shaping Facebook’s charter in India. It is a unique opportunity to shape the agenda of a company that has brought the world closer together in one of the most exciting markets in the world. I look forward to championing India in Facebook and working with stakeholders across the spectrum to help build deep and meaningful communities across the country”.
Following the Cambridge Analytica Scam, the Indian government is keeping an eye on social media giants like Facebook and Twitter to prevent misuse of any data or personal information. Earlier this year, IT Minister Ravi Shankar warned Mark Zuckerburg to take serious action in case of data theft.