NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Washington, D.C., December 10, 2025:YouTube chief executive Neal Mohan has been named TIME Magazine’s CEO of the Year for 2025, an honor recognizing his leadership of the world’s largest video platform during a period of rapid change in the global media landscape.
Mohan, who took over as CEO in 2023, was cited by TIME for steering YouTube’s evolution from a primarily mobile-video destination to a dominant presence in household living rooms, with major gains in TV-screen viewership through YouTube TV and smart-TV integrations. The magazine described him as a “cultural architect,” noting that decisions taken under his leadership shape what billions of people around the world watch, learn, and share.
The recognition also highlights YouTube’s expanding role in the creator economy. Under Mohan, the company has rolled out new tools and investments for creators, pushed for broader monetization opportunities, and strengthened the platform’s position amid tightening competition and regulatory pressures. According to TIME, Mohan has managed this growth while navigating complex challenges in content moderation, misinformation, and digital policy.
Mohan, 52, was born in Indiana and spent part of his childhood in Lucknow, India, before returning to the United States for higher education. A graduate of Stanford University, he joined Google after a digital advertising startup he worked for was acquired. He later became YouTube’s Chief Product Officer and succeeded Susan Wojcicki as CEO.
Media outlets in India and the United States noted the significance of the honor for the global Indian diaspora, pointing to Mohan’s rise as part of a broader trend of Indian-origin executives leading major American technology companies.
In profiling him, TIME wrote: “Mohan is the farmer; what he cultivates will be what we eat,” underscoring the scale of YouTube’s influence under his stewardship.
The CEO of the Year distinction is part of TIME’s annual recognition of leaders shaping business, culture, and technology.
Cover photo credit: U.S. Department of State/ Wikimedia.
