Anthropic, an AI company known for its Claude AI models, has appointed Irina Ghose, a former Microsoft executive, as its Managing Director of India. This strategic move signifies Anthropic's commitment to expanding its presence and operations in India, its second-largest market globally, as it prepares to open its first office in Bengaluru in February.

Ghose brings over three decades of experience in scaling technology businesses, holding leadership positions in sales, enterprise solutions, education, and go-to-market strategies. Before joining Anthropic, she served as Managing Director at Microsoft India, where she spearheaded enterprise AI adoption across key industries, including banking, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, technology services, and government. Her experience also includes leading high-impact teams and building ecosystem partnerships. Ghose also founded MyLittleBit, a philanthropic foundation focused on education and employment for underprivileged girls. She is also a recipient of the 'Inspirational Women's Award' at Microsoft and is a champion of Diversity & Inclusion. Ghose began her career at Tata Steel as a Program Manager.

Anthropic's decision to appoint Ghose underscores the company's focus on responsible AI deployment in India. The company aims to collaborate with policymakers, academic institutions, enterprises, and organizations to address local challenges using AI. Anthropic plans to hire local talent and work with Indian businesses, non-profits, and startups to apply AI in areas such as education, agriculture, and healthcare.

India holds significant importance for Anthropic, with a substantial user base for Claude.ai, second only to the United States. A notable characteristic of Indian users is their concentration on technical applications, with a significant portion of Claude.ai usage focused on computer and mathematical tasks.

Ghose expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to shape AI development and deployment in India, emphasizing the importance of trust, safety, and long-term impact alongside innovation. Chris Ciauri, Managing Director of International at Anthropic, highlighted Ghose's expertise in scaling technology businesses and driving enterprise transformation as ideal for leading Anthropic's expansion in India.

Anthropic's CEO and Co-founder, Dario Amodei, visited India in October 2025 and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss India's role in shaping the future of responsible AI. Amodei and other senior executives are expected to attend the India AI Impact Summit in February, followed by the official opening of Anthropic's Bengaluru office. Anthropic is also strengthening Claude's support for Indic languages to extend AI access to a wider range of users.