Google Cloud Elevates Sashikumar Sreedharan as India MD Amid AI Push

Google Cloud has elevated Sashikumar Sreedharan as the managing director for India, the company said in an official statement on July 1. Sreedharan will succeed Bikram Singh Bedi, who will now become the vice president of Google Cloud Asia Pacific (APAC).

Sreedharan will lead Google Cloud’s go-to-market organisation in India, working with the company’s enterprise and digital native customers, partners, and developer ecosystem. Earlier, he was serving as Google Cloud’s chief operating officer for the APAC region.

“AI is poised to redefine India’s industries and supercharge the productivity and creativity of its vast talent pool. With our deep AI heritage, cutting-edge technical infrastructure, and innovative solutions, Google Cloud is positioned to partner with Indian businesses and the public sector to harness AI’s transformative power,” said Karan Bajwa, President, Google Cloud, Asia Pacific.

“I want to thank Bikram who has been instrumental in driving Google Cloud’s success in India till date, and he will now shift his focus to regional strategic initiatives. As Sashi takes on the leadership of our team in India, I’m confident he will further propel our organization and our customers to their next phase of growth in this crucial market,” he added.

Prior to joining Google Cloud, Sreedharan was Managing Director of Microsoft India, leading its enterprise business, and he has also held leadership roles at SAP, IBM and others in India. 

“My time as COO for APAC has deeply affirmed my belief in Google Cloud’s winning strategy and powerful AI-first platform. I am excited to return to the field and to work with our customers to advance their innovation agenda,” said Sreedharan.

The appointment comes amid Google Cloud's efforts to ramp up its presence in India, where growing AI adoption is fueling fierce competition with rivals Microsoft and Amazon.

Organisations across diverse industries are leveraging Google Cloud’s solutions and expertise to innovate at scale. This includes leading FSI players such as HDFC Bank, HDFC Ergo, ICICI Prudential; prominent retail businesses like Flipkart, Meesho, and Myntra; healthcare providers including Apollo 24/7, Manipal Hospitals, and Dr. Reddy’s Labs; technology giants like Tech Mahindra and Wipro; and digital natives such as Glance, Sharechat, and Dream 11, among many others.

Google Cloud has also been actively partnering with the public sector in India, including key entities like ONDC, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Nirmit Bharat, Karamyogi, and Plutos.one to accelerate their digitalisation journeys and enhance service delivery for their constituents with the full power of Cloud and AI.