Meta has found its new captain in India. Arun Srinivas, the man who’s been steering its advertising business, is now stepping into the big chair starting July 1.
The announcement didn’t come out of the blue, though. The shift follows a couple of major shakeups inside the tech giant’s India operations — most notably the departure of public policy chief Shivnath Thukral and Sandhya Devanathan’s expanded regional remit that now includes Southeast Asia.
A Familiar Face Takes the Helm
This wasn’t a hire from outside. No elaborate onboarding, no long road to catching up.
Srinivas, already a known face within Meta’s corridors, has been running the ads business for India since 2020. That means he’s already had his hands on the levers that drive Meta’s revenue machine here — from AI-powered tools to Reels and even WhatsApp Business integrations.
In his new role, he’ll be managing much more than just numbers. Meta says he’ll be unifying their business, innovation, and revenue goals — while deepening ties with brands, advertisers, and local partners.
And yes, he’s still going to report to Devanathan.
Timing Matters: Why Now?
Srinivas’s promotion isn’t just a coincidence. Meta’s India operations have been through a bit of flux lately.
For starters, Shivnath Thukral — who led public policy — stepped down recently, leaving a vacuum in Meta’s outward-facing communication with the Indian government. That alone signals change.
Then there’s Devanathan. She was brought in during a tough phase back in late 2022 and has since taken on more weight. With her now overseeing the broader South East Asia region, someone needed to fully own India.
In that context, Srinivas’s elevation seems like a move to stabilize and anchor the business at a critical time.
One-liner? It’s Meta saying: we’ve got this covered.
Who Is Arun Srinivas?
Before Meta, Srinivas had already done the rounds in India’s corporate circuit. We’re talking over 25 years in the trenches.
He’s a post-grad from IIM Calcutta. And his resume reads like a list of some of India’s biggest consumer and tech brands — Hindustan Unilever, Reebok, Ola, and even a stint at WestBridge Capital.
At Ola, he played a key role during the startup’s massive scale-up phase. At Reebok, he handled branding at a time when sportswear was going mainstream in India. His time at WestBridge gave him a taste of the investment world too.
But it’s his stint at Meta that really tuned him in to India’s fast-moving digital ad space.
A Big Market, Big Responsibilities
India is Meta’s biggest user base — by far. Over 500 million users across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram. That’s more than the US.
But monetizing this base has always been tricky. India’s advertisers are price-sensitive, the regulatory environment is complicated, and competition is heating up with the rise of platforms like ShareChat, YouTube Shorts, and even homegrown ad networks.
So what does Arun have to juggle now?
• Keeping ad revenues growing despite macroeconomic jitters
• Strengthening Meta’s ties with regulators and policymakers
• Staying ahead in AI and Reels — both big bets for Meta in India
• Tapping into small businesses, which are now big digital spenders
And let’s not forget data localization laws, election cycles, and rising scrutiny of big tech.
Table: Meta India Key Leadership Timeline
| Year | Leader | Position | Key Events |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Arun Srinivas | Director, Ads India | Joins Meta, focuses on ad growth, messaging, Reels |
| 2022 | Sandhya Devanathan | VP, Meta India | Appointed during a turbulent phase |
| 2025 (June) | Sandhya Devanathan | VP, India + SEA | Role expands to cover Southeast Asia |
| 2025 (July) | Arun Srinivas | MD & India Head | Promoted to lead India operations |
What’s Next for Meta India?
Hard to say exactly — Meta plays its cards close to the chest. But there are clues.
Meta’s India growth story has been leaning more and more on AI and Reels. Reels engagement has shot up, especially in regional languages. And businesses — big and small — are starting to see Meta as more than a social media ad platform. Messaging via WhatsApp for Business is gaining serious traction.
Srinivas’s experience in advertising and brand management could help Meta translate engagement into dollars — especially in a market where cost per user is still low compared to western countries.
And here’s the thing — with Sandhya now balancing broader APAC duties, Arun’s new job is both strategic and operational. He has to keep the engine running, but also plan where the road goes next.
