In a major leadership move, YouTube has named Gunjan Soni as its new Country Managing Director for India, a role critical to one of the platform’s most dynamic markets. She steps into the position following the exit of Ishan Chatterjee, who left in 2024 to join JioCinema as Chief Revenue Officer.
Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Gautam Anand, Vice President and Managing Director for YouTube APAC, wrote,
“As India remains one of YouTube’s most vibrant and crucial markets, brimming with creativity and opportunity, I’m delighted to announce that Gunjan Soni has joined YouTube as our new Country Managing Director for India.”
Soni brings with her a rich and varied leadership background spanning over two decades across business, technology, marketing, and e-commerce. Most recently, she was the Group CEO of Zalora, a leading fashion e-commerce platform in Singapore, where she spent six years. Under her leadership, Zalora expanded into new categories, introduced innovative business models, and significantly enhanced user engagement through personalization and loyalty programs.
Before Zalora, Soni played an instrumental role at Myntra and Jabong, both Flipkart-owned fashion brands. She initially joined as Chief Marketing Officer and later led Jabong, steering its growth in a highly competitive online fashion space.
Her career also includes a notable stint as Executive Vice President at Star India, where she worked on digital initiatives and was a key force behind the launch of Hotstar (now Disney+ Hotstar) in 2015. Earlier, she honed her strategic skills at McKinsey & Company as a Partner in the Consumer and Marketing practice.
Reflecting on her new role at YouTube, Soni shared,
“Witnessing how YouTube empowers creators and connects communities across India is truly inspiring. I’m particularly excited about building on this foundation, fostering innovation, and further enhancing the platform’s role in helping creators unlock new storytelling opportunities and reach audiences globally. I am excited to work with and support our incredible partners across the ecosystem.”
Gunjan Soni’s appointment marks a significant moment for YouTube India as the platform continues to expand its influence across creators, brands, and audiences in one of its fastest-growing markets.
