Samsung’s India public policy chief steps down, sources say

• Aggarwal, a 57-year-old former Indian bureaucrat with prior experience at Uber and Meta, is serving his final week at Samsung India, though the reason for his resignation remains unclear
• Samsung is currently contending with Indian government demands to pre-install state-run apps, which the company has resisted citing privacy concerns
• The company is also among those legally challenging an Indian government order that would increase payments to electronic-waste recyclers

Samsung India Public Policy Chief Resigns Amid Regulatory Challenges

Rajiv Aggarwal, Samsung India's head of public affairs and ESG, has resigned after nearly four years in the role, according to sources familiar with the matter. The 57-year-old former Indian bureaucrat is serving his final week at the South Korean tech giant, though the reason for his departure remains unclear.

Key Personnel Details:

Aggarwal oversaw Samsung's critical relationship with the Indian government and previously held positions at Uber and Meta. Neither Aggarwal nor Samsung Electronics responded to requests for comment on the resignation.

Market Context:

The departure comes as Samsung and other major technology companies face mounting regulatory pressure in India. Recent challenges include:

• Indian government demands to pre-install state-run applications on devices, which companies have resisted citing privacy concerns
• Legal disputes over government orders requiring increased payments to electronic-waste recyclers, which Samsung has challenged in court

Company Position:

Samsung maintains market leadership in India's smartphone sector with a 16.2% market share, holding the No. 1 position in this strategically important market.

Market Implications:

The resignation of a senior public affairs executive during a period of heightened regulatory friction raises questions about Samsung's government relations strategy in India, one of the world's largest and fastest-growing smartphone markets. The timing suggests potential challenges ahead as technology companies navigate India's increasingly assertive regulatory environment. The loss of experienced government relations leadership could impact Samsung's ability to manage ongoing disputes and maintain its competitive position against rivals like Apple and Xiaomi.