Sandhya Devanathan

Devanathan did her undergraduate study at Andhra University, and graduated with an MBA from the FMS University in Delhi.{{Cite news |last=Bhattacharjee |first=Sumit |date=2022-11-18 |title=Meta India head Sandhya Devanathan is an alumna of Andhra University in Visakahpatnam |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/meta-india-head-sandhya-devanathan-is-an-alumna-of-andhra-university-in-visakahpatnam/article66153301.ece |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-11-19 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |last=Mehta |first=Tanvi |date=2022-11-17 |title=Meta Platforms appoints Sandhya Devanathan as India head |language=en |work=Reuters |editor-last=Sarkar |editor-first=Himani |url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-platforms-appoints-sandhya-devanathan-india-head-2022-11-17/ |access-date=2022-11-17}}

After finishing her MBA, Devanathan worked at Citibank.{{cite news |last=Saroha |first=Sakshi |title=Andhra University, DU, Oxford — Know about Meta India head Sandhya Devanathan's alma mater |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/education/new-meta-india-head-sandhya-devanathan-alumnus-andhra-university-du-fms-oxford-8275686/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=The Indian Express |date=18 November 2022 |language=en}} In December 2009, she moved to Singapore to work at Standard Chartered.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Meta India gets new head: All you need to know about Sandhya Devanathan |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/meta-india-gets-new-head-all-you-need-to-know-about-sandhya-devanathan-101668685608416.html |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}

In January 2016, Devanathan moved to Meta as the Group Director of South East Asia of Ecommerce, Travel, and Finserv. In August 2016, Devanathan made a shift within the company to a newly created role of Country Managing Director.{{cite news |last1=Teng |first1=Angela |title='Ability to adapt to new roles key to survival in new economy' |url=https://www.todayonline.com/business/tech-industry-and-new-jobs-facebook-spores-country-director |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=Today |date=19 March 2017 |language=en}} On top of that, in 2018 she additionally took on the role of Business Head of Vietnam.{{cite news |title=Who is Sandhya Devanathan, the newly appointed Head and Vice President of Meta India? |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/business/who-is-sandhya-devanathan-the-newly-appointed-head-and-vice-president-of-meta-india |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=The Free Press Journal |date=17 November 2022 |language=en}} During her nearly five years' tenure, she led under the supervision of Kenneth Bishop, who moved to Juul in 2020. In April 2020, Devanathan became the new Vice President of Gaming in the Asia Pacific region.{{cite news |title=Joined Meta in 2016, now heading its India unit: Meet Sandhya Devanathan, new Meta India chief |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/business-economy/joined-meta-in-2016-now-heading-its-india-unit-meet-sandhya-devanathan-new-meta-india-chief-article-95600891 |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=Times Now |date=18 November 2022 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Meta Appoints Sandhya Devanathan as India Head |url=https://www.sakshipost.com/news/technology/meta-appoints-sandhya-devanathan-india-head-164749 |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=Sakshi Post |date=17 November 2022 |language=en}}

While in this role, during an interview with CNBC, Devanathan said that a large part of the female gaming market was being overlooked, therefore profits were a fraction of what they could be. She said, "Women now comprise nearly half of the gaming industry and games need to reflect that growing diversity." She also added, "The gaming industry should reflect the growing diversity of its demographics if it wants to succeed."{{cite news |last=Toh |first=Ee Ming |title=Diversity in the gaming industry is an 'economic imperative,' says Meta executive |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/08/diversity-in-the-gaming-industry-an-economic-imperative-meta-exec.html |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=CNBC |date=8 March 2022 |language=en}}

In November 2022, amid mass layoffs of over 11,000 employees, she took up the vacant position, which had been previously left vacant by Ajit Mohan.{{cite news |last=Agarwal |first=Mehak |title=Meta appoints Sandhya Devanathan as India Vice President amid massive layoffs |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/corporate/story/meta-appoints-sandhya-devanathan-as-india-vice-president-amid-massive-layoffs-353185-2022-11-17 |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=Business Today |date=17 November 2022 |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Sandhya Devanathan to replace Ajit Mohan as Meta's India head |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/business/sandhya-devanathan-to-replace-ajit-mohan-as-metas-india-head20221117143404/ |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=ANI News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-11-17 |title=Meta India: फेसबुक की पैरेंट कंपनी मेटा ने गेंमिग दिग्गज संध्या देवनाथन को बनाया इंडिया हेड |trans-title=Meta India: Facebook's parent company Meta appoints Sandhya Devnathan as India head |url=https://www.abplive.com/business/facebook-led-meta-appoints-sandhya-devanathan-as-india-head-2261300 |access-date=2023-04-07 |website=ABP News |language=hi}} Other senior staff leaving the company included the former WhatsApp Head for India, Abhijit Bose.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-17 |title=Sandhya Devanathan will take over as Head and Vice President of Meta India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/meta-india-vice-president-sandhya-devanathan-8273521/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

In 2023 and 2024, Fortune India put Devanathan on their list of India’s most powerful women. In 2023, Devanathan was placed at number 47. {{Cite web |last=Mishra |first=-Urvashi |title=Sandhya Devanathan - Most Powerful Women in 2023 - Fortune India |url=https://www.fortuneindia.com/mpw/sandhya-devanathan?year=2023 |access-date=2023-10-06 |website=www.fortuneindia.com |language=en}} In 2024, Devanathan was placed at number 27.{{fact|date=April 2025}}

In 2024, Devanathan was placed as the 95th Most Powerful Woman in Asia by Fortune Asia.{{Cite web |title=Sandhya Devanathan {{!}} 2024 Most Powerful Women Asia |url=https://fortune.com/asia/ranking/most-powerful-women-asia/2024/sandhya-devanathan/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=Fortune Asia |language=en}}

In 2024, Devanathan announced partnership with ONDC, aimed at democratizing commerce for the greater majority of Indians.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=Sandhya Devanathan Of Meta India On India's Digital Transformation Story And ONDC Partnership |url=https://www.businesstoday.in/bt-tv/video/sandhya-devanathan-of-meta-india-on-indias-digital-transformation-story-and-ondc-partnership-410183-2023-12-20 |access-date=2024-08-26 |website=Business Today |language=en}}

In 2024, Devanathan was honored in her hometown of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, by the Vizagapatam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).{{Cite news |date=2024-06-24 |title=VCCI conducts 4th awards night |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/visakhapatnam/vizag-chamber-of-commerce-conducts-4th-awards-night/articleshow/111215260.cms |access-date=2024-08-26 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

In May 2025, Devanathan was announced to take on responsibilities for South East Asia on top of her India obligations.

In 2013, Devanathan became a mentor for UN Women on Project Inspire.{{cite news |last=Majumder |first=Trisha |title=Who Is Sandhya Devanathan? Meta's Head And VP Of India |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/shestars/who-is-sandhya-devanathan-meta-india/ |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=SheThePeople |date=18 November 2022}} She was a Board Member of the National Library Board.{{cite news |last=Bhattacharjee |first=Atreyee |title=Who Is Sandhya Devanathan? Meta's New India Head |url=https://www.bqprime.com/business/pfx-who-is-sandhya-devanathan-metas-new-india-head |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=BQ Prime |date=17 November 2022 |language=en}} Within Meta, she has served as the Coach of the Leap Leadership Program for Women in FB (Meta) since January 2018. She is also on the Global Diversity Equity Council within Meta, and is the current Executive Sponsor for Women in APAC region.{{cite news |last1=Chaturvedi |first1=Amit |title=Sandhya Devanathan Is Meta's New India Head: 5 Points To Know |url=https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/5-points-to-know-about-metas-new-india-head-sandhya-devanathan-3528717 |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=NDTV |date=17 November 2022}}

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• [https://about.fb.com/news/2022/11/sandhya-devanathan-appointed-head-and-vice-president-of-meta-india/ Sandhya Devanathan Appointed Head and Vice President of Meta India]

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Category:Living people

Category:Meta Platforms people

Category:Indian women business executives

Category:Andhra University alumni

Category:Faculty of Management Studies – University of Delhi alumni

Category:1977 births