Google Appoints Ex-Microsoft Executive Sreenivasa Reddy As Head Of India Public Policy

Google has appointed policy veteran Sreenivasa Reddy as the head of its public policy affairs in India, days after Dr Archana Gulati resigned from the post within just five months of taking the charge. 

Reddy took to LinkedIn to announce his appointment as the new government affairs and public policy leader at Google.

“I have long admired Google’s commitment to innovation and its mission to organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful. And this has been so evident in its journey in India… And India is at a critical juncture in its digital journey,” said Reddy.

“However, there are also challenges to be addressed, be it an equitable digital transformation or protecting the privacy and security of our users or leveraging the talent in the market to have India be at the forefront of tech innovation. I do believe that Google has a unique opportunity to play a role in addressing these challenges and helping India achieve its full digital potential,” he added. 

Reddy said that he will work with the Indian government, civil society, and Google’s partners to develop policies and programs that promote innovation, economic growth, and social inclusion.

Prior to this, Reddy worked with Microsoft as head of XR (extended reality) regulatory affairs for the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region. 

Before Microsoft, Reddy worked with Apple as the head of its regulatory affairs in India and headed Swedish telecom-gear maker Ericsson AB’s government and industry relations for over five years.

Reddy’s appointment at Google comes at a time when the US-based tech giant is dealing with multiple regulatory challenges in India amid the fast-evolving digital and regulatory landscape.

The company has been facing backlash from several Indian companies and startups on its Google Play Billing System (GPBS).

Google has also been embroiled in legal battles with the Competition Commission of India (CCI). The regulator slapped fines of INR 936.4 Cr and INR 1,337.6 Cr on Google last year in two separate antitrust cases.

Currently, the tech major is fighting the CCI in the court. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) will soon start hearing Google’s appeal against the CCI’s fine of INR 936.4 Cr for abusing its dominant position through its Play Store policies. 

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