Facebook India's Managing Director Steps Down

Facebook's managing director in India Kirthiga Reddy is stepping down.

Reddy, who leads Facebook's global sales efforts in India, announced in a post on the social network on Friday that she will be leaving the position she has held for six years. She plans to officially depart within six to 12 months. The news comes days after a government regulator in India passed a ban that prevents  Facebook from offering its free Internet service, Free Basics, in the country.  Facebook's  program offers people in developing countries access to a handful of websites, including Facebook , at no charge. The social network's CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly emphasized his goal to help connect everyone in the world to the Internet and to Facebook.

Reddy is not involved with Free Basics, the company said. However, the executive's move puts a spotlight on the company's efforts in the region. By country, India represents the second-largest community on Facebook with 130 million users, second to the U.S. For Facebook, developing countries, such as India, with a population of more than 1.25 billion, represent key growth opportunities, both to expand its user base and to boost its accelerating advertising business.

In her role, Reddy focuses on large advertisers who want to target Facebook users in India. She also helps create new ad products and services.

Reddy said she and her family always intended to move back to the U.S., in part to enroll her daughters in U.S. schools. The executive did not specify what role she will take on next, but said she is exploring opportunities at Facebook's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. and will help search for her replacement. She said work will be "business as-usual" until she departs.

"I could not be more excited about where the Facebook business is in India," Reddy said in her post. "Over the last six years, starting as the first employee for Facebook in India, I have had the privilege to be part of our amazing growth journey -- from our operations in Hyderabad to being a business partner for our clients as they build their brands and grow their business in this mobile-first world."

A Facebook spokesperson said Reddy had planned to return to the U.S. for some time and that she would work with Facebook at its headquarters.

"We are extremely proud of the work she has done to grow our global sales business in India," the spokesperson said.

Zuckerberg reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening his and Facebook's ties to India in a post on Wednesday, responding to controversial comments a Facebook board member made about India after regulators in the country banned Free Basics.

Venture capitalist Marc Andreessen had made comments on Twitter  that expressed his disappointment with the regulator's decision. Some of his comments suggested he supported the colonization of India.

"I found the comments deeply upsetting, and they do not represent the way Facebook or I think at all," Zuckerberg said. "India has been personally important to me and Facebook. I've been inspired by how much progress India has made in building a strong nation and the largest democracy in the world, and I look forward to strengthening my connection to the country."