Madhav Chinnappa

Madhav Chinnappa is a media and technology executive whose career spans more than three decades at the intersection of journalism, digital innovation, and sustainability. Chinnappa began his career as a journalist and news executive, contributing to the launch of Associated Press Television, where he served in editorial, marketing, and business roles. He later worked as acting Asian editor before transitioning to a business role, then moved to BBC after a year at United News & Media, ultimately becoming head of development and rights. Chinnappa holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and policy studies from Rice University.

Chinnappa joined Google as head of strategic partnerships for Google News and Magazines EMEA, later holding leadership roles focused on news and publishing. During his 13 years at Google, he worked at the intersection of technology and media, serving as director of news ecosystem development and collaborating with media organizations worldwide as they navigated technological and business changes. Chinnappa played a central role in shaping Google's relationship with the journalism industry, launching the Digital News Initiative to engage with the European news ecosystem. His work also includes launching the DNI Fund, the GNI Innovation Challenge program, and the Journalism Emergency Relief Fund, supporting journalism innovation, funding, and sustainability.

Chinnappa contributed to significant product collaborations between technology platforms and publishers, including the development of AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages), an open-source HTML framework optimized for mobile speed. Under the Google News Initiative, he worked to evolve business models, elevate quality journalism, and empower journalism through technology. His efforts to bridge the divide between Silicon Valley and the news industry have made him a recognized figure in media-technology relations.

After Google, Chinnappa continued to influence journalism and technology as a senior executive consultant. He advises Human Native AI, an artificial intelligence data startup, and serves as a board member of the Future Insights Board of Mediahuis, the Belgian multinational news organization. Chinnappa also launched a thought leadership event series for Thomson Foundation, titled "Thomson Talks with Madhav Chinnappa," bringing together news executives, technology experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss key issues in the news ecosystem. With a career evolving from frontline journalism to global policy and AI advisory work, Chinnappa is regarded as an authoritative voice on the future of the news ecosystem.