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Manoj Kohli joins Adobe International Advisory Board to steer AI shift
Former Airtel CEO to guide global clients through digital and AI transformation
NEW DELHI: Manoj Kohli, former India head of SoftBank and ex-CEO of Bharti Airtel, has joined the Adobe International Advisory Board, signalling Adobe’s continued push to help businesses navigate the fast-evolving AI landscape.
The advisory board, set up in 2021, brings together global leaders to guide organisations through technological and strategic change. Kohli’s appointment adds nearly five decades of leadership experience spanning telecom, technology, renewable energy and digital innovation.
Currently chairman and managing partner at MK Knowledge LLP, Kohli advises CEOs and founders across Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the United States. He is also actively involved in mentoring and teaching leadership at global business schools.
Speaking on the appointment, Manoj Kohli said, “I’m delighted to join the Adobe International Advisory Board to work with customers at this pivotal time when AI is rapidly transforming how customers discover and engage with brands, and reshaping how enterprises operate and create value. Adobe has consistently enabled organisations to enhance creativity and productivity, and orchestrate personalised experiences to drive growth. I look forward to contributing my perspective and working closely with fellow leaders to help shape their next era of growth.”
Welcoming him to the board, Adobe president JAPAC Ben Goodman said, “India is one of the fastest-growing digital markets in the world, and organisations are increasingly looking to AI and digital experience technologies to drive innovation and growth. Manoj’s extensive leadership experience and strong focus on excellence and integrity will be invaluable for our customers as they navigate complexity, unlock new growth opportunities, and deliver exceptional experiences at scale.”
Kohli previously led SoftBank’s India operations, overseeing more than $15 billion in investments across high-growth companies such as Ola, OYO, Zomato, Lenskart, Meesho, Flipkart, Swiggy and Delhivery. His tenure at Bharti Airtel saw the telecom giant expand from two million to over 400 million customers, cementing its position as a global player.
With digital transformation accelerating across industries, Adobe is betting on seasoned leaders like Kohli to help clients translate strategy into sustained growth. His appointment underscores a broader trend where experience meets innovation, as companies look to balance legacy strengths with future-ready thinking.
Brands
Air Canada ceo to quit over “English-only” message after New York plane crash
English-only condolence video after fatal LaGuardia crash triggers outrage in Quebec and hastens succession
MONTREAL: Air Canada’s boss is heading for the exit after a linguistic misstep collided with a national faultline.
Michael Rousseau will retire by October, the airline said on Monday, days after a backlash over his English-only video tribute following a deadly crash involving an Air Canada Express jet in New York. The March 22 collision with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport killed two pilots and injured dozens, but Rousseau’s message, bookended only by “bonjour” and “merci”, ignited fury in French-speaking Quebec.
Mark Carney welcomed the departure, calling the video a “lack of judgment and lack of compassion”. “It is absolutely essential that his successor is completely bilingual,” he said in Toronto. “He did a good job technically as CEO but as the leader of an organisation you have broader responsibilities. It’s the right decision at the right time.”
The row quickly metastasised. Quebec’s National Assembly voted 92–0 for Rousseau to quit. More than 1,800 complaints flooded the federal languages watchdog. Even Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, a major shareholder, weighed in. “There is no doubt that the video should have been in both official languages.”
The symbolism cut deep. One of the dead pilots, Antoine Forest, was from Quebec. Language, long a live wire in the province, remains entwined with identity and politics, fuelling the separatist Parti Québécois ahead of an election due by October.
Rousseau, 68, had form. In 2021, soon after taking charge, he drew fire for delivering a Montreal speech largely in English and boasting he had lived there for years without speaking French. He apologised then and again last week, saying he was “deeply saddened” his limitations had “diverted attention from the profound grief of the families and the great resilience of Air Canada’s employees.” He had logged more than 300 hours of French lessons since taking the helm in February 2021.
Operationally, his tenure was steadier. He steered Air Canada through the pandemic and its messy aftermath, though labour tensions, most notably a four-day cabin crew strike, dogged the recovery. Shares slipped more than 2 per cent after the news before trimming losses to about 1.2 per cent on the Toronto exchange.
The airline, bound by the Official Languages Act to serve customers in both English and French, said it is accelerating a succession plan already under way, with candidates to be judged in part on their French. Analysts say the next chief must pair operational discipline with strategic clarity amid fuel volatility, labour costs and fierce competition.
A dual crisis—metal on tarmac in New York and politics at home—has now claimed its most senior scalp. In Canada’s flag carrier, competence got Rousseau far. In the end, fluency finished the job.
