Neal Mohan, the Indian-origin Chief Executive Officer of YouTube, has been honoured as TIME Magazine’s CEO of the Year for 2025. TIME credits him with successfully guiding the platform through significant cultural and technological shifts, shaping what billions of users watch, share, and interact with daily.
A Leader Shaping Global Digital Culture
TIME describes Mohan as a “cultural architect” whose decisions directly influence the world’s digital consumption habits. Since assuming the role of CEO in 2023, Mohan has led strategic developments in content moderation, platform governance, and creator support — positioning YouTube as a driving force in global online media.
Personal and Educational Background
Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1973, Neal Mohan spent part of his childhood in Lucknow, India, where he became fluent in Hindi and also studied Sanskrit. He has spoken about the similarities between Sanskrit grammar and computer programming logic. Mohan later returned to the United States to pursue higher education, completing both his undergraduate degree and MBA at Stanford University.
His professional career began in consulting before joining NetGravity, which was later acquired by DoubleClick.
Rise Through the Tech Industry
Mohan played a crucial role in DoubleClick’s $3.1 billion acquisition by Google in 2007, which marked a turning point in his career. The move brought him into close collaboration with Susan Wojcicki, who later recruited him to YouTube. After years of working alongside her, Mohan succeeded Wojcicki as CEO in 2023. During her illness in 2024, he temporarily expanded his leadership responsibilities before officially taking charge.
Key Decisions Under His Leadership
One of the most notable developments during Mohan’s leadership was the resolution of a long-standing legal case concerning the suspension of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s channel. The dispute was settled in 2025 for $24.5 million, without any admission of wrongdoing. Mohan continues to prioritize platform safety, global content strategy, ethical AI adoption, and expanded creator tools — ensuring YouTube remains one of the world’s most influential digital platforms.
Key Points
- Neal Mohan became CEO of YouTube in 2023
- Named TIME’s CEO of the Year 2025
- Key role in DoubleClick’s $3.1 billion sale to Google in 2007
- Oversaw a $24.5 million YouTube legal settlement in 2025