MAM
Simple Energy charges ahead with new marketing leaders
MUMBAI: Simple Energy is switching gears in style. The Bengaluru-based electric mobility company has appointed Jitin Johnson as head of marketing and Kevin Thomas as head of brand, alongside expanding its marketing team to over 40 professionals. The move is aimed at accelerating the company’s pan-India growth, with plans to roll out 150 retail stores and 200 service centres across the country by March 2026.
With 14 years of marketing experience, Jitin Johnson joins Simple Energy after leading digital marketing at River. He will oversee the company’s omnichannel strategy, encompassing brand development, go-to-market initiatives, digital transformation, and customer engagement. “Simple Energy is redefining how India moves – blending performance, design, and purpose in a way that resonates with the next generation of riders. I’m thrilled to shape a brand that’s emotionally charged as well as high-performing,” said Johnson.
Bringing over 13 years of creative leadership, Kevin Thomas joins from Ultraviolette Automotive, where he served as principal visual designer. He has also worked with Amazon, Motorola, and OnePlus. Thomas will lead the brand’s visual identity, storytelling, and design philosophy. “Great automotive brands are built not just through engineering, but through emotion and visual storytelling. At Simple Energy, I aim to craft a brand that is rider-centric, culturally rooted, and visually expressive,” said Thomas.
Simple Energy general manager – brand & marketing Smitha Rao commented, “These appointments and the team expansion mark a crucial step in strengthening Simple Energy’s brand and business ambitions. With Jitin and Kevin leading key functions, we’re positioned to build meaningful connections, enhance brand consistency, and accelerate our mission to make electric mobility aspirational yet accessible.”
Simple Energy’s portfolio includes the Simple One Gen 1.5 and Simple OneS, offering IDC ranges of 248 km and 181 km respectively. The company is also India’s first OEM to produce heavy rare-earth-free motors commercially and to offer an 8-year motor warranty. With 61 outlets in key cities including Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Jaipur, Simple Energy is now expanding into Delhi, Patna, and other new markets, powering the next wave of electric mobility across India.
Digital
OpenAI names Sanghyun Lee Apac global affairs head
Ex-Google policy leader to steer AI governance and partnerships in region
MUMBAI: OpenAI has appointed Sanghyun Lee as head of Asia Pacific global affairs, bringing in a seasoned policy hand as it deepens engagement across one of the fastest-evolving AI markets.
Based in Singapore, Lee will lead public policy engagement, government relations and strategic partnerships across key Asia Pacific markets, including India, Japan, Korea, Australia and Southeast Asia. His role will centre on shaping how AI is governed and adopted responsibly across the region.
Lee joins OpenAI after nearly nine years at Google, where he held multiple leadership roles in government affairs and public policy. Most recently, he served as global head of key markets for platforms and devices, overseeing regulatory strategy across major markets including the US, EU and Asia.
Reflecting on his transition, Lee described his time at Google as formative. “After nearly nine years at Google, I am closing a chapter that has meant a great deal to me. These were defining years. We navigated regulatory scrutiny, fast-moving policy debates, and moments that demanded calm judgment and steady teamwork,” he said.
At OpenAI, Lee will focus on aligning innovation with policy frameworks, a balancing act that is becoming increasingly critical as AI adoption accelerates worldwide. Lee said, “When a technology is as powerful as AI, progress is not only about innovation. It is also about how thoughtfully we engage with governments, institutions, and communities to help ensure its benefits are shared broadly and responsibly.”
Lee brings more than two decades of experience spanning technology, investments and public policy. His career includes leadership roles at Airbnb, where he worked on regulatory frameworks in Asia, and academic positions at Yonsei University. He is also an alumnus of MIT Sloan School of Management and has contributed to research on AI governance and digital policy.
His appointment comes as OpenAI looks to strengthen its institutional presence globally, with Asia Pacific expected to play a central role in shaping the future of AI regulation and adoption.
As governments and companies race to define the rules of AI, OpenAI’s latest hire signals a clear intent to stay ahead of the policy curve while building trust in a rapidly transforming digital landscape.
