Mumbai: Google India has appointed Kanika Kalra as Director of Consumer Apps and Platforms Marketing, marking a key addition to its leadership team as the company deepens the integration of artificial intelligence across its consumer ecosystem.
The appointment was announced by Shekar Khosla, Vice President of Marketing and Site Lead at Google India, in a LinkedIn post where he welcomed Kalra to the organisation. Khosla said he had previously worked with her during their time at Unilever and had witnessed her ability to drive meaningful impact across teams and businesses.
According to Khosla, India’s consumer apps and platforms landscape is evolving rapidly, particularly as AI becomes embedded across everyday digital tools. He noted that platforms such as Google Search, Google Maps, Android, Google Photos, and Google Chrome are increasingly integrating AI capabilities through initiatives like Gemini, making leadership in consumer marketing critical to shaping intuitive, AI-driven experiences for users.
Kalra brings more than two decades of experience across consulting, technology and consumer goods sectors. Prior to joining Google, she served as Regional Marketing Director – Health, South Asia at Reckitt.
Earlier in her career, she spent several years at McKinsey & Company, where she worked as Partner and Associate Partner, advising organisations on strategy and growth. She has also held leadership roles such as Vice President of Marketing at Snapdeal and Global Brand Director at Unilever, where she was involved in innovation initiatives around the Fair & Lovely brand.
Her professional journey additionally includes stints at Hindustan Unilever, PepsiCo, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, and Genpact, giving her a broad perspective across global consumer brands and digital businesses.
Kalra’s appointment comes at a time when Google is intensifying efforts to bring AI-powered capabilities to its widely used consumer platforms in India, one of its fastest-growing digital markets. Her role is expected to focus on strengthening the marketing strategy for Google’s consumer products while helping accelerate adoption of AI-enabled services among users.
