Meta India VP Sandhya Devanathan Steps Down

Sandhya Devanathan, Meta's vice president for India and Southeast Asia, has announced her departure from the company after a decade-long stint. She made the announcement in a LinkedIn post, stating that she plans to take a brief break before deciding on her next professional move.

Devanathan joined Meta in 2016 and has held several leadership roles across the company's businesses in the Asia-Pacific region. In January 2023, she became the vice president of Meta India, succeeding Ajit Mohan. During her tenure, she oversaw the company's operations in India, which is one of Meta's most important global markets and its largest user base.

In June 2025, Devanathan took on an expanded role overseeing Meta's Southeast Asia business and moved to Singapore. The company subsequently appointed Arun Srinivas as managing director and head of India operations in July 2025. Devanathan's time at Meta allowed her to work across sectors including e-commerce and gaming while building teams in India and Southeast Asia.

Before leading Meta's India operations, Devanathan played a role in developing the company's businesses and teams in Singapore and Vietnam. She also worked on Meta's e-commerce initiatives across Southeast Asia. Devanathan joined Meta in 2016 after a career in banking, having previously worked at Standard Chartered Bank and Citi.

Devanathan's departure comes as Meta continues to deepen its presence across India and Southeast Asia. India, with more than a billion users, remains a critical market for Meta's growth across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The company's products have helped create connections between people and businesses globally, which was a motivating factor for Devanathan during her tenure.

The transition is an important leadership development for the company's regional operations. Meta will need to find a suitable replacement for Devanathan to continue its growth and expansion in the region. The company's commitment to the Indian and Southeast Asian markets remains strong, and it will be interesting to see how it navigates this leadership change.

In the coming months, Meta will likely focus on finding a new leader to oversee its operations in India and Southeast Asia. The company's growth and success in these markets will depend on its ability to adapt to changing user behaviors and regulatory environments. With Devanathan's departure, Meta will need to ensure a smooth transition and continue to build on its strengths in the region.

The significance of Devanathan's departure cannot be overstated. She has been a key figure in Meta's growth and expansion in India and Southeast Asia. Her leadership and vision have helped shape the company's strategy in these markets, and her departure will be felt across the organization. However, Meta's commitment to the region remains strong, and it will be interesting to see how the company navigates this change and continues to grow and expand in the coming years.

In conclusion, Sandhya Devanathan's departure from Meta marks the end of an era for the company in India and Southeast Asia. Her leadership and vision have helped shape the company's strategy in these markets, and her departure will be felt across the organization. However, Meta's commitment to the region remains strong, and it will be interesting to see how the company navigates this change and continues to grow and expand in the coming years.