NODWIN GAMING on Wednesday announced the appointment of Sidharth Kedia as chief strategy and investments officer, bringing back its former CEO at a time when the company is stepping up fundraising, mergers and acquisitions, and preparations for a potential public listing.
Kedia served as CEO from 2019 to 2023. In his new role, Kedia’s mandate “includes strengthening the company’s investment thesis as it builds a scalable, IP-led business across gaming, content, live experiences, and youth culture”.
Per the company, during his tenure, NODWIN delivered a tenfold increase in revenue, raised over $50 million in capital, with valuation growing from approximately ₹140 crore (approx $19.4m at the time) post Nazara’s investment in 2018, to $350m pre-money following the Sony Group Corporation-led round in 2023. He also played a key role in shaping NODWIN’s evolution from an esports-focused business into a broader youth media and entertainment company, laying the foundation for its current multi-vertical ecosystem.
Kedia said: “…NODWIN is entering a phase where focused strategy, thoughtful capital allocation, and strong execution will unlock its true value potential. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on this momentum and take NODWIN into its next stage of growth.”
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director, NODWIN Gaming, noted: “Sidharth has played a pivotal role in shaping NODWIN’s journey, and his return back to the NODWIN Family comes at an important stage as we continue to scale the business globally and look at a potential listing. He combines a deep understanding of our ecosystem with strong expertise in capital strategy and corporate development. As we expand our IP portfolio, enter new markets, and advance our capital plans, his leadership will be instrumental in driving long-term value creation for the company.”
Kedia’s appointment comes on the back of NODWIN Gaming reinforcing its board and leadership with the appointment of Arnd Benninghoff to its board of directors, “reflecting the company’s continued focus on building institutional depth and preparedness for a potential IPO”.
NODWIN has maintained strong financials. After delivering ₹524 cr in FY25 on the back of a consistent 50%+ CAGR since 2018, NODWIN has already surpassed that milestone within the first three quarters of FY26, reaching ₹530.3 cr while remaining EBITDA positive, signalling a record year ahead and a structurally stronger business.
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has built a presence across gaming, esports, creator ecosystems and youth culture in markets including South Asia, Singapore, Taiwan, the Middle East and Central Asia.
Its investors include Nazara Technologies, Krafton, Sony Group Corporation and JetSynthesys.
Kedia brings over two decades of experience across media, investments, and strategy. He has held leadership roles across fintech, private equity, and media. He was part of the early evolution of India’s payments ecosystem at Venture Infotek, built one of the country’s early analytics and data science practices at eFunds, and co-founded Ambit Pragma Ventures, a $150m private equity fund focused on high-growth sectors, leading their media & entertainment practice. He later held key roles across the Network18 portfolio and advised on media investments for Jio. As head of Strategy at Viacom18, he worked across corporate strategy and M&A while driving data-led decision making and innovating traditional media models. His career reflects a consistent focus on identifying shifts in consumer behaviour and enabling businesses at the intersection of technology, content, and distribution.
