Coupang Appoints Microsoft AI Chief to Board

Seattle, WA - South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. (NYSE: CPNG) has appointed Asha Sharma, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President and Head of Product, AI Platform, to its board of directors.

Asha Sharma, who previously held executive roles at Meta and Instacart, brings expertise in consumer innovations and operational excellence to the Fortune 200 technology company.

Coupang CEO Bom Kim asserted that Sharma's experience in product development and AI aligns with the company's mission to innovate for customers. 

The appointment coincides with Coupang's efforts to expand its global reach beyond its primary market of South Korea.

Before her appointment at Microsoft, Sharma served as Chief Operating Officer at Instacart, where she played a pivotal role in the company's initial public offering (IPO) and subsequent transition to profitability. 

In addition, she was Vice President of Product at Meta, facilitating the expansion of Facebook Messenger to reach billions of users.

The appointment occurs as Coupang, which went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, endeavors to extend its reach beyond its primary South Korean market. 

The company offers a range of services, including retail, food delivery, and video streaming, and has been expanding its operations into new markets, including Taiwan.

Asha Sharma expressed confidence in Coupang's future: "I believe Coupang will be one of the most important companies in the world in the next ten years."