Softbank India appoints Manoj Kohli as country head

SoftBank India has appointed former Bharti Airtel executive – Manoj Kohli as its country head. The move comes after a nearly five-year stint as the chairman of the Japanese telecom and investment giant’s renewable energy business SB Energy.

Kohli brings with him over 40 years of experience, he was head of Airtel’s international operations besides working at companies like DCM Shriram and Escotel before joining SoftBank.

SoftBank in a statement said “In this new role, Kohli will be responsible for supporting SoftBank, SoftBank Vision Fund, and their portfolio companies’ interests in India. He will be responsible for government relations and public policy efforts, working closely with portfolio company founders and CEOs.”

SB Energy Global is headed by Raman Nanda, who has been with SoftBank since 2011. SoftBank has also been beefing up its team in India as earlier this month Vision Fund roped in Vikas Agnihotri, who was till recently Google India’s interim country head, as its first operating partner in the country.