New Delhi: Facebook India on Monday appointed former IAS officer and former Uber executive Rajeev Agarwal, filling the post of Director of Public Policy, after nearly a year. Agarwal will replace Ankhi Das, who stepped down in October last year after being embroiled in a controversy for opposing the implementation of hate speech rules against right-wing leaders in the country.
In his new role, Agarwal will lead key policy development initiatives for Facebook in India, including user security, data protection and privacy, inclusion and Internet governance, a statement said.
In this role, Agarwal will report to Ajit Mohan, Vice President and Managing Director, Facebook India and will be part of the Indian leadership team.
Who is Rajeev Agarwal?
In his last term, Agarwal was leading Uber as head of public policy for India and South Asia. He has 26 years of experience as an Indian Administrative Officer (IAS) and has worked as a District Magistrate in nine districts of the state of Uttar Pradesh.
In his administrative tenure, he spearheaded India’s first National Policy on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) as Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (Ministry of Commerce) and was instrumental in the digital transformation of India’s IP. office, according to the statement.
Agarwal has also been associated with the India-US Bilateral Trade Forum, apart from being India’s principal negotiator on IPR with other countries.
Ajit Mohan said, “With his expertise and experience, Rajiv will help advance our mission of transparency, accountability, building empowered and safe communities, which we consider to be our responsibility.
This is one of the important appointments that have come amidst a series of senior and leadership recruitments in marketing, partnerships, communications and other key verticals in recent months, demonstrating the company’s expansion charter and commitment to India .
(with PTI inputs)
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