Bijoya Roy, Google’s top legal counsel in India, has stepped down after around 16 months in the role, according to two sources. Her resignation marks another high-profile exit at a time when the US tech giant is facing increasing regulatory pressure in one of its most important markets. The company is also currently without a head of government relations in India, adding to leadership gaps in a critical region.

India plays a central role in Alphabet’s global strategy, largely because the majority of smartphones in the country operate on Google’s Android system. While Apple has been steadily expanding its presence, Google continues to dominate the mobile ecosystem, making regulatory developments in India especially significant for the company’s future growth.

At present, Google is dealing with multiple challenges in the country, including ongoing antitrust cases, legal scrutiny related to the training of its artificial intelligence systems, and stricter content takedown rules that came into effect in February. These evolving regulations have increased pressure on large technology companies operating in India. One of the sources stated that Roy resigned last month for personal reasons and is planning to start her own venture. Both individuals familiar with the matter requested anonymity, as the decision has not been officially announced.

Google did not respond to requests for comment, and Roy also declined to provide a statement. Her departure follows the exit of Sreenivasa Reddy, Google’s former head of public policy in India, who left last year. That position has remained vacant, highlighting ongoing leadership transitions within the company. Despite these challenges, Google announced in October a plan to invest fifteen billion dollars over five years to establish an artificial intelligence data center in Andhra Pradesh, marking its largest investment in India so far.