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Sandhya Devanathan

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sandhya Devanathan
Born1977 (age 48–49)
Education
OccupationBusiness executive
Employer(s)Meta Platforms (2016–2026)
OpenAI (2026–)

Sandhya Devanathan is a former banker and business executive from Andhra Pradesh, India. She has served as Vice President and Managing Director of Meta (owner of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Threads) from 2018 to 2025. In 2025, she took over additional duties, overseeing Meta's Southeast Asia operations, replacing Benjamin Joe. In 2026, she is set to join an artificial intelligence company, OpenAI as Vice President for Southeast Asia and Australia.

Education

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Devanathan was born and brought up in Visakhapatnam, Andra Pradesh, India. She completed her lower education at the St. Francis De Sales (S.F.S.) School in Seethammadhara, adjoining Visakhapatnam.[1] In 1994, Devanathan entered Andhra University College of Engineering and completed her chemical engineering (BTech) degree in 1998.[2][3] At the university, she also completed L2 computer programme course.[4] In 1998, she moved to Delhi and enrolled in the Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi (FMS Delhi) from where she earned her MBA degree in 2000.[5][6] In 2014, she completed a course in leadership at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford.[7][8]

Career

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After finishing her MBA, Devanathan worked at Citibank as Webmaster and Product Manager.[9][10] Between 2000 and 2009, she hold various positions in India, the Philippines and US.[8] In December 2009, she moved to Singapore to work at Standard Chartered.[11]

In January 2016, Devanathan Joined Facebook (renamed Meta in 2021) company as the Group Director of South East Asia of Ecommerce, Travel, and Finserv. In August 2016, she made a shift within the company to a newly created role of Country Managing Director for Singapore and Vietnam.[12] On top of that, in 2018 she additionally took on the role of Business Head of Vietnam.[13] During her nearly five years' tenure, she led under the supervision of Kenneth Bishop, who moved to Juul in 2020. In April 2020, Devanathan became the new Vice President of Gaming in the Asia Pacific region and moved to Indonesia.[9][14] She also became the global lead for Play Forward, Meta's programme for improving diversity in gaming.[9]

While in this role, during an interview with CNBC, Devanathan said that a large part of the female gaming market was being overlooked, therefore profits were a fraction of what they could be. She said, "Women now comprise nearly half of the gaming industry and games need to reflect that growing diversity." She also added, "The gaming industry should reflect the growing diversity of its demographics if it wants to succeed."[15]

In November 2022, amid mass layoffs of over 11,000 employees, she took up the vacant position, which had been previously left vacant by Ajit Mohan.[16][17][18] Other senior staff leaving the company included the former WhatsApp Head for India, Abhijit Bose.[19]

In January 2023, Devanathan was appointed Head and Vice President of Meta India, replacing Ajit Mohan, who had joined Snap.[6][8] In 2024, she announced partnership with ONDC, aimed at democratizing commerce for the greater majority of Indians.[20] The same year, she made partnership with the Press Trust of India (PTI ) for a better fact-checking system in India.[7]

In May 2025, Devanathan was announced to take on responsibilities for Southeast Asia on top of her India obligations.[21] In August 2026, she announced departure from Meta and acceptance the position of Vice President for Southeast Asia and Australia for the American artificial intelligence company, OpenAI.[22] She will be based in Singapore.[23]

Philanthropy and corporate activities

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In 2013, Devanathan became a mentor for UN Women on Project Inspire.[24] She had been appointed member of USIBC Global Board, board of the National Library of Singapore, a board observer at Jio Platforms, and a national steerco member of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).[7] Within Meta, she has served as the Coach of the Leap Leadership Program for Women in FB (Meta) since January 2018. She is also on the Global Diversity Equity Council within Meta, and is the current Executive Sponsor for Women in APAC region.[25]

Devanathan started the STEM program for Singaporean school girls with UN Women (now called Girls2Pioneers), and was co-chair of the Women's Council at Standard Chartered. She is also on the advisory council of the Women's Forum for Economy & Society in Asia.[26] In 2018, she was a panel member of the "The Face of Leadership and Strength of Diversity" programme of the University of Oxford held in Singapore.[27]

Honours and awards

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In 2017, Devanathan was awarded The Asian Banker Promising Young Banker for Asia Pacific.[28]

Devanathan has been listed in three consecutive years in the Fortune India's "Most Powerful Women"; in 2023 at number 47,[29] in 2024 and 2025, at number 27.[30] She was also listed in the "50 Most Influential Women of the Year" by Impact magazine at 9th position in 2023 and 1st in 2024.[31]

In 2024, Devanathan was placed as the 95th Most Powerful Woman in Asia by Fortune Asia.[32] In 2024, Devanathan was honored in her hometown of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, by the Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).[1]

References

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  1. 1 2 "VCCI conducts 4th awards night". The Times of India. 24 June 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  2. ↑ Rao, Umamaheswara (19 November 2022). "Andhra University alumnus Sandhya Devanathan to be new head of Meta India". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  3. ↑ Suruchi, Pravrajya (26 February 2025). "Meet woman, the new Meta India head, who never went to IIT, IIM, she is from..." DNA India. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  4. ↑ Bhattacharjee, Sumit (18 November 2022). "Meta India head Sandhya Devanathan is an alumna of Andhra University in Visakahpatnam". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  5. ↑ Mehta, Tanvi (17 November 2022). Sarkar, Himani (ed.). "Meta Platforms appoints Sandhya Devanathan as India head". Reuters. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Who is Sandhya Devanathan, the newly appointed Head and Vice President of Meta India?". Free Press Journal. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Sandhya Devanathan's story of Innovation, Leadership and Success". Women's Tabloid. 23 May 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 "At he helem - Devanathan, Vice-President, Meta India". India Business Journal. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 Priya, Amrita (30 August 2024). "Sandhya Devanathan: The VP leading Meta to "power India's decade"". The Global Indian. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Saroha, Sakshi (18 November 2022). "Andhra University, DU, Oxford — Know about Meta India head Sandhya Devanathan's alma mater". The Indian Express. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  11. ↑ "Meta India gets new head: All you need to know about Sandhya Devanathan". Hindustan Times. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Teng, Angela (19 March 2017). "'Ability to adapt to new roles key to survival in new economy'". Today. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  13. ↑ "Who is Sandhya Devanathan, the newly appointed Head and Vice President of Meta India?". The Free Press Journal. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  14. ↑ "Joined Meta in 2016, now heading its India unit: Meet Sandhya Devanathan, new Meta India chief". Times Now. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  15. ↑ Toh, Ee Ming (8 March 2022). "Diversity in the gaming industry is an 'economic imperative,' says Meta executive". CNBC. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  16. ↑ Agarwal, Mehak (17 November 2022). "Meta appoints Sandhya Devanathan as India Vice President amid massive layoffs". Business Today. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  17. ↑ "Sandhya Devanathan to replace Ajit Mohan as Meta's India head". ANI News. 17 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  18. ↑ "Meta India: फेसबुक की पैरेंट कंपनी मेटा ने गेंमिग दिग्गज संध्या देवनाथन को बनाया इंडिया हेड" [Meta India: Facebook's parent company Meta appoints Sandhya Devnathan as India head]. ABP News (in Hindi). 17 November 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Sandhya Devanathan will take over as Head and Vice President of Meta India". The Indian Express. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  20. ↑ "Sandhya Devanathan Of Meta India On India's Digital Transformation Story And ONDC Partnership". Business Today. 20 December 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
  21. ↑ "Meta's Sandhya Devanathan to lead Southeast Asia after driving India growth - CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  22. ↑ PTI (29 August 2026). "Sandhya Devanathan exits Meta after a decade; to join OpenAI as VP South East Asia, Australia". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  23. ↑ "Meta's Sandhya Devanathan exits after decade-long stint, to join OpenAI". The Economic Times. 28 August 2026. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  24. ↑ Majumder, Trisha (18 November 2022). "Who Is Sandhya Devanathan? Meta's Head And VP Of India". SheThePeople. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  25. ↑ Chaturvedi, Amit (17 November 2022). "Sandhya Devanathan Is Meta's New India Head: 5 Points To Know". NDTV. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  26. ↑ "Women's Forum Asia 19". Women's Forum Community. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  27. ↑ "The Face of Leadership and Strength of Diversity: University of London hosts thought leadership panel debate in Singapore". University of London. 2018.
  28. ↑ "The Asian Banker Promising Young Banker Awards". asianbankerawards.com. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  29. ↑ Mishra, -Urvashi. "Sandhya Devanathan - Most Powerful Women in 2023 - Fortune India". www.fortuneindia.com. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "Sandhya Devanathan". Fortune India. 24 April 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  31. ↑ "The Power Women of 2024". Impact. 9 December 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2026.
  32. ↑ "Sandhya Devanathan | 2024 Most Powerful Women Asia". Fortune Asia. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
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