Ex Viacom industry stalwart Sidharth Kedia joins Nodwin Gaming as CEO

Nodwin Gaming, Indian esports company has appointed Sidharth Kedia as its CEO to spearhead and drive the online gaming business in India. Following its explosive growth over the last 12-months, this is Nodwin Gaming's first senior management appointment. Sidharth will be based out of Mumbai where he’ll open the first regional office for Nodwin Gaming.

Announcing the news, Akshat Rathee, founder and managing director of Nodwin Gaming said, “It's an exciting time for the firm as the overall e-sports scene in India is on the cusp of exponential growth. We are thrilled to have Sid joining us as the CEO at this time. With his rich experience in the media, entertainment, technology, and investment sectors coupled with his in-depth understanding of the gaming space and his proficiency in scaling businesses, I'm confident his leadership will provide the fuel that will propel e-sports and Nodwin Gaming to the next level. We wish him all the best. The CEO function will continue to report to the Managing Director and the Board.”

“In today's age of digital disruption where several of our cultural experiences are undergoing an online evolution, e-sports has become an unequivocal buzzword. The gaming business in India is finally coming of age. The journey of e-sports that began as a virtual battle between geeky gamers in the confines of their homes or cybercafés a decade ago, is no longer just fun and games but has evolved into a major organized sport recognized at the Asian Games and even the Olympics. I am equally enthusiastic and anxious as I take up my new role as CEO and aim to make Nodwin Gaming a global player when it comes to e-sports.” Said an excited Sidharth.

An Economics graduate from Delhi University and a Chartered Accountant, Sidharth is also an alumnus of TRIUM – a global Executive MBA program run jointly by the London School of Economics, Stern – New York University and HEC – Paris. Sidharth started his career in Information Systems Advisory with Ernst & Young in 1998. After which he joined General Electric’s prestigious Finance Management Program (run by Crotonville, US) in 1999 and post successful completion of the program, moved to a Black Belt (6 Sigma) role in GE Consumer Finance in Mumbai in 2002.

Sidharth then went on to work across the start-up industry for the next 3 years and in May 2007, he co-founded Ambit Pragma Ventures in Mumbai – a Private Equity fund, focused on providing growth capital to SMEs in India wherein he set up the Media & Entertainment practice. He worked closely with the portfolio companies, not only designing their long-term strategic plans but also developing short-term and executable milestones. His last stint before joining Nodwin Gaming was with Viacom 18 as Deputy Chief Commercial Officer. Given his unconventional and analytical approach and his penchant for taking calculated risks with a good blend of strategic foresight and tactical skills, Sidharth was entrusted with the additional charge to head Corporate Strategy, M&A and Data Sciences at Viacom18.

Sidharth is an avid mountaineer and when he’s not scaling Mount Kilimanjaro, he likes to capture the wildlife through his lens.