OpenAI hires Meta executive to lead Southeast Asia and Australia

OpenAI has brought on a Meta executive to spearhead its operations in Southeast Asia and Australia, the latest in a string of senior hires designed to accelerate its Asia-Pacific expansion.

Building the APAC leadership bench

The Southeast Asia and Australia hire is part of a broader regional buildout that includes Kiran Mani, who was appointed Managing Director for Asia Pacific. Mani reports directly to Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon and is focused on markets including India, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

Jennifer Lien also joined OpenAI as Head of Marketing for APAC in 2026, tasked with driving both consumer and B2B growth alongside enterprise adoption. Sanghyun Lee was brought on as Head of Asia-Pacific Global Affairs in early 2026, handling policy engagement across the region.

The recruitment pattern between OpenAI and Meta has mostly involved AI researchers swapping teams, not regional business leaders. This hire represents a different kind of poaching, one aimed at operational and commercial expertise rather than pure technical talent.

Why Southeast Asia and Australia matter

Australia has been one of its fastest-adopting regions globally. Weekly active users of ChatGPT in Australia doubled by late 2025, a growth rate that apparently convinced the company to open its first Australian office in Sydney back in December 2024.

India rounds out the trifecta. OpenAI opened its first India office in New Delhi in August 2025 and has plans to expand into Mumbai and Bengaluru.

AI regulation across APAC is still largely in its formative stages. Countries like Singapore, Australia, and India are each developing their own frameworks for governing AI deployment. Having policy-focused leaders like Sanghyun Lee on the ground gives OpenAI a seat at those tables while the rules are still being written.

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