What happened
Sandhya Devanathan, an executive at Meta, is leaving the company to join OpenAI. According to TechCrunch, she will oversee some OpenAI operations across Southeast Asia and Australia in her new role. The news was reported on August 28, 2026.
The departure comes at a time when Meta is facing growing scrutiny in India, as noted in the same report. The specific nature of the scrutiny is not detailed in the source.
Why it matters
The move underscores the ongoing competition for executive talent in the artificial intelligence sector. OpenAI, a leading AI company, continues to attract senior figures from major tech firms. For Meta, losing a key executive could have implications for its regional operations, especially as it navigates regulatory and public attention in India. The growing scrutiny in India may affect Meta's business prospects in one of the world's largest internet markets.