Shakeel Khan joins Okta India as RVP and country manager

In a bid to strengthen its India foothold, Okta, a US-based cybersecurity firm, has named Shakeel Khan as its regional vice president and country manager for India. The company is looking to specifically reinforce its commitment to securing digital identities and expanding its presence in the region, it said in a statement.

With nearly three decades of experience in cybersecurity, Khan will focus on strengthening Okta’s position as a trusted identity security partner for Indian businesses. Based in Bengaluru, he will oversee the company’s sales operations in India.

Ben Goodman, SVP & GM, Okta APJ, said on Khan’s appointment, “Our commitment to India remains strong, with more than 19,000 customers worldwide leveraging Okta. Khan’s technical leadership and strategic vision will help us reach the next level of growth,” he added.

Commenting on his appointment, Khan said, “We are seeing the threat landscape continuing to get more sophisticated, affecting businesses across the spectrum. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the talented team at Okta, to deliver exceptional value to our customers with secure identity solutions. I look forward to contributing to Okta’s growth and success while working with some of the brightest minds in the industry.”

Since the launch in 2023, the Okta India team has grown threefold over the past year to over 300 employees, with plans to exceed 500 in 2025. Okta’s expansion in India is part of a broader growth plan. With India’s developer base projected to surpass the US by 2027 and over 75% of IT spending flowing through partner channels, India is a prime growth market for Okta.

The company follows a partner-first approach, working with key players like Savex, ACPL, 22by7, and Valuepoint to drive further growth.

The Cybersecurity market in India is expected to witness significant growth in the coming years. By 2025, the revenue in this market is projected to reach $3.30 billion. Among the various segments, Cyber Solutions dominates the market, with a projected market volume of $1.72 billion in 2025.

Indian CXOs rank cybersecurity as their top risk mitigation priority (61%), followed by digital and technology risks (60%), inflation (48%), and environmental risks (30%) for the next 12-months, as per findings from PwC India’s 2025 Digital Trust Insights published in November.