On Monday, Facebook India announced that Rajiv Aggarwal has been appointed Public Policy Director, former IAS officer and former Uber executive. He takes over from Ankhi Das, who resigned in October of last year. Her opposition to the implementation of hate-speech laws against right-wing figures in the country landed her in hot water.
In this capacity, according to a release, Aggarwal will design and manage key policy development efforts for Facebook in India, including user safety, data protection and privacy, inclusion, and Internet governance. Aggarwal is reporting to Facebook India’s Chief Executive Officer Ajit Mohan, and will become a part of the Indian management team.
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According to the statement, his most recent position was with Uber, where he served as the Head of Public Policy for India and South Asia. Aggarwal is a 26-year veteran of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) who has served as a District Magistrate in nine districts throughout Uttar Pradesh.
As Joint Secretary in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (M/o Commerce), he directed India’s first-ever national policy on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and was important in the digital transformation of India’s IP offices according to the statement.
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According to the statement, besides being India’s chief negotiator on IPRs with other countries, he has been intimately engaged with the India-US bilateral trade conference. Speaking on the appointment, Ajit Mohan stated that Facebook is an ally for India’s dynamic economic and social change, in which digital plays a key role.
Aggarwal’s hiring follows a flurry of senior and executive hires in recent months in marketing, alliances, communications, and other critical areas, indicating the company’s growing commitment to India.
