Ex-Xiaomi VP Manu Jain joins G42 as India CEO
Manu Kumar Jain, former CEO and Global VP of Xiaomi, has recently taken the helm as CEO of G42's Indian division. An Abu Dhabi-based conglomerate, G42 operates in a variety of sectors such as information technology, healthcare, finance, aviation, and hospitality. Jain's primary responsibility will be to spearhead G42's AI development in India and broaden its operations within the country.
G42's expansion into the Indian market
With a strong presence in the Middle East, Europe, and the United States, G42 is eager to extend its services to India's IT sector. Under Jain's leadership, the company, which boasts over 20,000 employees across 10 different companies, aims to jumpstart AI development in India. Notably, G42's technology division handled the CCTV and security monitoring for the Dubai Expo 2020 event, which attracted more than 24 million visitors.
Manu Kumar Jain's background and achievements
Before joining G42, Jain played a pivotal role in Xiaomi India as one of its early employees, leading the smartphone business since 2014. Under his guidance, Xiaomi rose to become India's top smartphone brand with the largest market share. Prior to Xiaomi, Jain co-founded the e-commerce platform Jabong in 2012, which was later acquired by Myntra in 2014. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Delhi and an MBA from IIM Calcutta.
G42's recent developments and funding
G42 currently operates nine companies, including data center and cloud service businesses. According to a Reuters report this year, the tech giant raised $800 million from US tech investment firm Silver Lake, which is backed by Mudabala, the UAE's sovereign wealth fund. In July 2023, G42 reportedly signed a $100 million AI supercomputer deal with California-based Cerebras Systems.
Challenges and opportunities for G42 in India
As G42 ventures into the Indian market, it will undoubtedly face stiff competition from well-established players in the AI and IT sectors. However, with Jain's expertise and leadership at the helm, the company has the potential to make a significant impact on India's tech landscape. G42's expansion into India offers a unique opportunity to harness the power of AI and revolutionize industries across the nation.
