Facebook appoints Umang Bedi as Managing Director of its India operations

Facebook today appointed Umang Bedi as its Managing Director in India. He will be joining Facebook from Adobe, where too he was the MD for South Asia operations.

Umang Bedi is replacing Kirthiga Reddy, who would be returning to the US to take on a new role at Facebook HQ. Bedi will use his experience to build strategic relationships with various regional agencies in the country. Facebook made a huge mess of its Free Basics (Internet.org) initiative in India, with its model of a closed ecosystem in the name of free internet.

Bedi added:

I am thrilled to join Facebook and am looking forward to working with the talented teams in India to help brands and agencies grow their business on our platform. For me it’s a promising opportunity to participate in India’s digital growth, and I can’t think of a better place to be at.

Kirthiga Reddy said on her return to the US:

After six years in India building our operations and business, it’s hard to leave a team I now call family. The good news is that we will continue to work together. As I look ahead, I am excited about how well positioned our business is, to grow from strength to strength with Umang’s leadership, and with my next opportunity to shape and drive our emerging markets strategy across some of the world’s biggest brands.

Via: LiveMint