Karan Bhatia leads the global public policy function at Google—a 450-person team based in more than 50 countries around the world. In this role, he serves as principal advisor to Google’s chief executive officer, board, and senior management on policy issues, and he leads the company’s work with policymakers and key political stakeholders in the US and around the world.

Before joining Google in 2018, Bhatia was president of GE’s government affairs and policy function. During his 10 years at GE, he helped drive the company’s significant expansion into government-facing global markets. He supported more than $40 billion in government-related industrial orders globally, secured international regulatory approvals for critical mergers and acquisitions, and led the company’s policy advocacy efforts on issues ranging from climate change to international trade. 

Earlier in his career, Bhatia served in senior positions in the US government, including at the Departments of Commerce and Transportation, shaping US international economic policy. His last role was as deputy US trade representative, overseeing US international trade policy with Asia and Africa. Before his government service, he was a partner at Wilmer, Cutler, and Pickering, where he was a member of the firm’s international and corporate groups.

Bhatia has written and spoken widely on international economic policy, taught at Georgetown University Law Center, and testified on many occasions before Congress. In addition to his board position at the Urban Institute, he sits on the boards of the US Global Leadership Coalition and the Partnership for Public Service. 

Bhatia holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University, a master’s degree from the London School of Economics, and a law degree from Columbia University.