Claude maker Anthropic appoints ex-Microsoft exec Irina Ghose as India MD ahead of Bengaluru office opening

US-based AI startup Anthropic has appointed former Microsoft India managing director Irina Ghose as managing director for its India operations.

The appointment comes as the company prepares to open its first India office in Bengaluru as part of its expansion push.

“India has a real opportunity to shape how AI is built and deployed at scale,” Irina said.

“Indian organizations are moving beyond experimentation toward applied AI, where trust, safety, and long-term impact matter as much as innovation. Anthropic’s mission resonates with my belief that technology should empower people, expand access, and create lasting value across India’s diverse languages and communities.”

Ghose brings more than three decades of experience in the technology sector. She spent 24 years at Microsoft India, joining the company in 2001 as a regional partner alliance manager and rising through multiple leadership roles.

She led Microsoft’s education and cloud sales businesses in India and was promoted to managing director of its India arm in July 2023, after serving as chief operating officer.

“Irina's expertise in scaling technology businesses and driving enterprise transformation makes her the ideal leader as we expand,” said Chris Ciauri, Managing Director of International, Anthropic.

“As we grow our teams and deepen engagement across India’s public and private sectors, Irina will ensure our approach is grounded in local insight and aligned with our mission.”

Her appointment follows Anthropic co-founder and CEO Dario Amodei’s announcement in October that the company would open an India office in Bengaluru.

Days later, Amodei met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss Anthropic’s expansion plans and AI deployment in India. Amodei is also expected to be a keynote speaker at the AI Impact Summit hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in New Delhi on February 18-19.

Founded in January 2021, Anthropic emerged as a key player during the generative AI boom following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. The company positions its flagship model, Claude, as a safety-first alternative in the foundational AI space. Amodei, who left OpenAI in December 2020 after differences with co-founder Sam Altman over AI governance and direction, has consistently emphasised responsible AI development.

Over the past five years, Anthropic has raised about $27.4 billion. According to a Reuters report, , the company has signed a term sheet to raise an additional $10 billion at a valuation of around $350 billion. Its investors include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and the Qatar Investment Authority.

Anthropic’s India push comes amid intensifying competition among global AI firms to secure an early foothold in the country. OpenAI and Perplexity have also stepped up their India strategies. OpenAI is in advanced discussions with Tata Consultancy Services to set up AI infrastructure in India and has been exploring partnerships with educational institutions.

Last year, it launched ChatGPT Go in India at a monthly price of Rs 399. Perplexity has partnered with Airtel to expand its offerings, while Google is offering its Gemini Pro subscription free to students in India.

“India is compelling because of the scale of its technical talent,” Amodei said during his India visit last year. “There is deep alignment between the challenges India is tackling and our mission as a company, from deploying AI across diverse languages and contexts to building frameworks for responsible governance. India’s AI ecosystem will play a central role in how AI develops globally and democratically.”