SoftBank appoints Manoj Kohli as country head: Report

Japanese conglomerate SoftBank Group has elevated Manoj Kohli, executive chairman of SB Energy, to country head for India. 

In his new role, Kohli will oversee the operations of startups promoted by SoftBank and Vision Fund in the India market.

Kohli joined SoftBank Group’s renewable energy business in 2015. He was earlier managing director and CEO at Bharti Airtel, leading the international strategy and vision for the company. An alumnus of the University of Delhi, he previously served as CEO of cellular operator Escotel which was acquired by Idea.

In his new role,  Kohli will also be responsible for public policy efforts and government relations of SoftBank’s portfolio companies in India, The Economic Times reported citing a statement from SoftBank. 

An email to SoftBank did not elicit a response at the time of publishing this article. However, Kohli’s updated LinkedIn profile showed that he became country head this month.

The appointment comes at a time when SoftBank is negotiating troubled waters with portfolio companies globally and in India, including WeWork’s public listing debacle in the US and massive layoffs at budget hospitality chain, OYO. 

SoftBank also announced the appointment of former interim-head at Google India, Vikas Agnihotri as an operating partner. Sumer Juneja, previously a partner at venture capital firm Norwest Venture Partners, had joined SoftBank Investment Adviser as India head in December 2018.