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Google elevates Tapan Malhotra as lead – sovereign AI partnerships, APAC
Ex-Uber and Blinkit executive to drive government AI collaborations across Asia-Pacific
MUMBAI: Google has elevated Tapan Malhotra to lead – sovereign AI partnerships for the Asia-Pacific region, marking a new chapter in a career spanning mobility, e-commerce and enterprise strategy.
Malhotra announced the transition in a post on LinkedIn, describing it as the start of a new chapter focused on “projects that matter at a country level”. He added that sovereign AI is among the most consequential debates shaping the intersection of policy and technology, and said he looked forward to contributing to partnerships that will define how AI develops across the region.
In his new role at Google, Malhotra will work with governments, leading AI labs, universities and public sector enterprises to strengthen national-scale AI infrastructure and ecosystems across APAC. The focus reflects a growing trend among governments in the region seeking greater control over data, computing and AI deployment strategies.
Before joining Google’s sovereign AI push, Malhotra spent over six years at the company in industry-focused roles. His earlier career includes leadership positions at Uber, where he handled sales strategy and operations in India and South Asia, and at Blinkit, where he served as Vice President Sales during its early growth phase.
He also held multiple roles at ITC Limited across sales, marketing and channel leadership, building experience in both traditional and digital commerce ecosystems. His academic background includes a Business Management degree from XLRI Jamshedpur and a BSc in Computer Science from Delhi University.
The appointment underlines how global technology firms are sharpening their focus on sovereign AI frameworks, particularly in fast-growing markets like APAC where governments are increasingly shaping the rules of AI development.
As AI becomes a strategic priority for nations, Google’s latest leadership move signals a deeper commitment to aligning innovation with public sector needs. For Malhotra, it marks a shift from commercial strategy to a broader role at the intersection of technology, policy and national capability building.
