In a significant leadership appointment, Snap Inc., the parent company of social media platform Snapchat, has promoted its Asia Pacific (APAC) President Ajit Mohan to the position of Chief Business Officer (CBO). The announcement came during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, where CEO Evan Spiegel highlighted Mohan’s impressive track record in growing Snap’s presence across the APAC region.
The elevation of Mohan, who joined Snap in 2022, marks a strategic shift in the company’s approach to global advertising and business operations. In his expanded role, he will oversee Snap’s advertising business across all regions while managing revenue product development and business operations, aimed at creating better alignment among the platform’s advertising teams.
“Ajit joined Snap over two years ago as president of APAC, where he rapidly grew our business and presence across the region,” stated Evan Spiegel, CEO and co-founder of Snap Inc. “His deep understanding of emerging markets and proven leadership in scaling advertising operations makes him the ideal choice to lead our global business strategy.”
Mohan brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having previously served as Vice President and Managing Director of Meta India for four years. His career includes a successful tenure as CEO of Disney+ Hotstar, where he played a crucial role in establishing the streaming platform’s dominance in the Indian market. An alumnus of Singapore’s Nanyang Technical University and Wharton Business School, Mohan’s experience also spans leadership roles at Star India and consulting positions with McKinsey and Arthur D Little.
Under Mohan’s leadership in the APAC region, Snapchat has witnessed substantial growth in India, now boasting 200 million monthly active users in the country. The platform has particularly resonated with GenZ users (aged 13-25), attracted by its innovative augmented reality (AR) features and camera filters.
The appointment has significant implications for Tamil Nadu’s startup ecosystem, particularly in Chennai’s growing social media and digital advertising sector. Karthik Raghupathy, founder of Chennai-based digital marketing firm DigiConnect, notes, “Having an Indian leader at the global helm of Snapchat creates new opportunities for Tamil Nadu’s digital advertising startups. We anticipate increased collaboration between local firms and Snap’s advertising platform.”
The company has been actively expanding its presence in India, with growing teams in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. Industry analysts suggest that Chennai could be next in line for Snap’s expansion plans, potentially creating new opportunities for Tamil Nadu’s technology talent pool and digital marketing agencies.
This leadership change comes at a crucial time for Snap Inc., which reported a 14% year-on-year revenue increase to $1.56 billion for Q4 2024. The company’s focus on emerging markets, particularly India, has been a key driver of this growth, with local advertising revenues showing strong momentum.
Looking ahead, Mohan’s appointment is expected to accelerate Snap’s advertising innovation and market expansion strategies, with a particular focus on leveraging India’s digital advertising potential. His understanding of both global and local markets positions Snap to better serve its advertising partners while continuing to grow its user base in key regions.
