Ending almost a year-long search for an India head, Facebook has named Ajit Mohan, the chief executive officer of Star India's over-the-top video service Hotstar, as its India Vice-president and managing director. He will join Facebook early next year.

David Fischer, Vice-President of Business and Marketing Partnerships, Facebook Inc. stated, “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.”

Ajit’s appointment ends Facebook's one-year search for an India head after former managing director Umang Bedi left in October last year. Mohan will assume an enhanced role at Facebook India, following a rejig of its India operations by the company. After Umang's departure, Facebook’s India and South Asia director Sandeep Bhushan was acting as its interim managing director.

On his appointment, Ajit stated, “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.”

Mohan will be responsible for global marketing sales, partnerships, policy (except content policy) and communications. The move is in line with Facebook’s strategy to delink India’s operations from the Asia-Pacific region. Typically, India’s country heads would report to Singapore-based senior executives. 

But as reported in August, the new country head, will be designated managing director and vice president (MD & VP), India and will now report to David Fischer, Facebook’s global VP of business and marketing partnerships, based out of US. Fischer was the one leading the headhunt for a new chief in India.

An alumnus of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Mohan is an alumnus of McKinsey and Company’s New York office where he worked with media companies around the globe. He has also served as a Fellow at the McKinsey Global Institute.

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