Key takeaways
- Okta appoints Shakeel Khan as Regional VP and Country Manager for India to strengthen identity security.
- Khan brings 27 years of cybersecurity experience to enhance Okta's position in the Indian market.
- Okta plans to triple its workforce in India, aiming for over 500 employees by 2025.
- The company adopts a partner-first approach, collaborating with key players to drive growth.
- India is a critical market for Okta, with significant IT spending projected through partner channels.
Okta, the US based identity and access management company, has named Shakeel Khan as its regional vice president and country manager for India, reinforcing its commitment to securing digital identities and expanding its presence in the region.
With 27 years of experience in cybersecurity, Khan will focus on strengthening Okta’s position as a trusted identity security partner for Indian businesses. Based in Bangalore, he will oversee the company’s sales operations in India. His career spans pre-sales to enterprise sales leadership, giving him deep expertise across the cybersecurity ecosystem.
Ben Goodman, SVP & GM, Okta APJ, welcomed Khan’s appointment, stating, “We are delighted to have Shakeel Khan join Okta India at a stage where businesses are looking for robust and trusted identity solutions more than ever. Our commitment to India remains strong, with more than 19,000 customers worldwide leveraging Okta. Shakeel’s technical leadership and strategic vision will help us reach the next level of growth.”
Khan expressed enthusiasm about his new role, highlighting the evolving cybersecurity landscape. “I look forward to contributing to Okta’s growth and success while working with some of the brightest minds in the industry,” he said.
Since its India launch in 2023, Okta has seen rapid expansion, tripling its workforce to over 300 employees in just a year. The company plans to surpass 500 employees by 2025 as part of its broader growth strategy.
India is a key market for Okta, with the country’s developer base expected to overtake the US by 2027 and over 75% of IT spending flowing through partner channels. The company follows a partner-first approach, working with key players like Savex, ACPL, 22by7, and Valuepoint to drive further growth.
