iWorld
Stepathlon appoints sports industry veteran Nick Rusling as MD
Mumbai: Technology-driven fan engagement company, Stepathlon has appointed Nick Rusling, a veteran of the sports industry, as managing director. Rusling will be based in London and will report to CEO & chairman Ravi Krishnan.
Rusling has been associated with the sports industry for over 25 years. After working with the sports behemoth, IMG, Rusling turned entrepreneur and started Human Race Events in 2010. Human Race acquired 10 other businesses during its growth phase, created many events from scratch, and in 2016, was acquired by ASO, the owners of the Tour de France, Dakar Rally, and Paris Marathon.
Krishnan said, “I have known Nick for over 15 years. He’s not only a great professional from the sports industry but also has relevant commercial, digital, and leadership skills to complement the Stepathlon team. He brings with him many important and relevant relationships in the UK and European market in multiple areas that are relevant for the growth of the company.”
Since 2001, Rusling has been primarily focused on the mass participation industries – running, marathons, cycling, and triathlon – delivering hundreds of events for millions of participants all around the world, including the UK, Abu Dhabi, Stockholm, and Barcelona. Prior to mass participation events, Rusling worked as a sports agent, representing Ian Botham, Pat Cash, and Damon Hill.
Krishnan added, ” Nick has been building some of the most successful events in the market in some of the greatest cities in the world, pioneering digital progress to enhance the customer experience beyond event day.”
Rusling commented, “I am driven, both personally and in business, by getting the world fit and active. The genius of Stepathlon is that we harness the power of fan communities in the world of sport, music and beyond, to inspire and motivate millions of people to get fit and healthy together—all by taking part in our virtual races, unrestricted by the capacity of roads. The opportunity is limitless as everyone is a fan of something.”
Rusling has also been heavily involved in the charity sector, helping raise over £150 million for multiple causes, and has worked as a trustee for sports-based charities, Herne Hill Velodrome Trust and Women in Sport.
The appointment follows a new global round of investment that Stepathlon has raised from a pre-eminent mix of individuals from the world of sports, entertainment, media and lifestyle, and prominent investors from private equity, technology, ESG and family offices. Demonstrating confidence in the technology-driven fan engagement business of Stepathlon, existing and new investors participated in this fresh round of capital raise by the company.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
