Google has hired Karan Bhatia as its new Global Head of Policy to lead the company's policy discussions around major issues such as AI, job creation and infrastructure. 

Kent Walker, Google’s Senior Vice President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer, stated, “We’re thrilled to hire someone with Karan’s impressive experience in global policy. He’s a widely respected leader who will work with our teams to advocate for policies that encourage growth and innovation.”

Karan Bhatia comes from GE, where he is President of GE's Government Affairs and Policy function. Bhatia’s first focus will be dealing with a regulatory backlash that includes antitrust investigations and new digital-privacy rules.

The position has been vacant since last September, when Caroline Atkinson, a former Obama official, stepped down. Bhatia will report to Walker.

In a statement, Karan stated, “This is an incredible opportunity to join such an exciting company in a fast-moving industry. I’m looking forward to contributing across a range of products that people use every day, and to important policy debates.” 

Bhatia joined GE in 2008 and has served as General Electric’s president of government affairs and policy, overseeing more than 100 employees. The Columbia Law School graduate will have to deal with an array of domestic policy issues, including privacy and cybersecurity, with the toughest one being in Europe wherein the EU is expected to rule soon on its antitrust case against Google’s Android mobile operating system.

Prior to GE, Bhatia was in charge of US international trade policies with Asia and Africa as a deputy representative under the Bush administration.

Image Credits: Getty Images