MUMBAI: Taboola has turned the page on its India chapter, and it’s no longer just about native ads. With performance marketing in its crosshairs, the global content recommendation giant has appointed Harpreet Singh as its new country manager to lead its next wave of expansion in India.

Backed by strong momentum in the Indian market, Taboola has begun rewriting its growth script. Its February launch of 'Realize'—a new performance-focused platform that moves beyond the confines of search and social—marked a strategic pivot. Built to deliver scalable outcomes for advertisers, Realize reflects the company's ambition to dominate the evolving digital ad space.

To add muscle to this shift, Taboola recently inked a two-year exclusive partnership with JioNews, one of India’s leading news aggregators. The deal integrates Taboola’s content discovery suite across JioNews’ categories—from politics and business to lifestyle—giving advertisers enhanced reach to high-intent Indian audiences.

Singh now steps into the driver’s seat, tasked with leading Taboola’s India operations at a time when the company is aggressively pursuing performance advertising. With over 18 years in digital media, Singh has played an instrumental role in Taboola’s success in India and Southeast Asia. His work with publishers such as Times Internet, Network18, Jagran New Media, Hindustan Times, and Indian Express helped establish Taboola as a go-to monetisation partner.

“We are committed to evolving beyond native advertising and Harpreet’s leadership aligns perfectly with this shift,” a company representative said. “His track record makes him ideal to expand Realize’s potential and build stronger advertiser and publisher outcomes in India.”

The new leadership, combined with product innovation and strategic deals, signals Taboola’s aggressive expansion in one of its most promising markets. As Realize gains traction, all eyes will be on how Singh steers this next leg of growth.