Google appoints Mitul Shah, a former Apple executive, to oversee the sale and growth of Pixel in India.

  Google has named former Apple India executive Mitul Shah as the Managing Director for its devices and services business in India, a calculated move meant to increase the company’s footprint in the country’s high-end smartphone market. Shah, who has over nine years of tech industry experience and was previously in charge of consumer sales at Apple India, has been hired to spearhead the growth of Google’s Pixel smartphones in India.

Shah expressed his excitement about the new role on LinkedIn, stating, “Pixel is not just another device. It’s the platform designed to put the immense power and possibilities of AI in everyone’s pocket.” He added that he looks forward to working on a product that has the potential to bring AI-driven experiences to millions of people in India.

The hiring of Shah by Google demonstrates the company’s expanding goals in India, the second-largest smartphone market in the world. According to Counterpoint Research, Google’s Pixel devices presently only have a 0.04 percent market share in India, despite the country’s enormous population. The tech giant is eager to establish Pixel as a formidable competitor in this market given the nation’s growing need for high-end handsets.

Google’s recent efforts to increase its local presence, such as the assembly of the Pixel 8 in India through Wowtek Technology India in line with the government’s “Make in India” plan, have been followed by this hiring. Other models, like as the Pixel 8a, are not affected by this change, though. Additionally, new features like international warranty coverage were introduced with the Pixel 9 series launch in India, enabling users to access services no matter where they bought their smartphone. With several noteworthy improvements in areas like camera, chipset, and design, the new Pixel 9 series also made its debut, providing consumers with a capable choice in this extremely competitive smartphone industry.

Google’s decision to tap into Shah’s experience suggests a renewed focus on the Indian market, where premium devices are increasingly in demand. By using his expertise, the company aims to scale up the availability of Pixel smartphones and deliver AI-driven experiences to a larger audience across the country.