Brands
Harish Shriyan elevated as Omnicom Media Group CEO
MUMBAI: Omnicom Media Group India COO Harish Shriyan has been elevated as chief executive officer. In his latest capacity, Shriyan will now be in charge of the performance of the group’s four offices in the country and will drive the company’s expansion process to meet the demands of new growth.
Shriyan has been associated with the group since its establishment in India in 2007 and has been serving as the chief operating officer since 2013, Shriyan has developed an unrivalled understanding of its agencies’ niche offerings amidst a highly competitive marketplace. In this new capacity, Shriyan will work closely with the leadership of OMD and PHD, namely Priti Murthy and Jyoti Bansal respectively, fueling the agencies’ continued growth, driving digital transformation and innovation for its clients, and delivering exceptional performance in the Indian market.
Omnicom Media Group CEO South East Asia and India Torie Henderson says, “Over the past decade, Shriyan has played an integral role in establishing Omnicom Media Group’s presence in the Indian market. This promotion is a testament to his hard work and dedication over the years, as well as the respect and trust he has earned from our staff, clients and partners. He has a clear mandate to drive innovation, digital transformation and performance for our clients and I am delighted that he has risen to this challenge.”
Harish Shriyan adds, “Having been with the group for just over a decade, the agencies and its people have become like family and I can’t think of a better place or team to be a part of. I am excited to take on this new challenge and work closely with our talented management team on the next chapter for our agencies, especially at a time when the media and marketing landscape is transforming so rapidly and profoundly. There has never been a more exciting time to work in the industry, with emerging opportunities allowing us to make an even bigger impact on our clients’ brands. I look forward to raising the bar even further for our agencies, our people and our clients.”
Brands
Nodwin Gaming appoints Sonal Varma as global director of live events
Former Comic Con India VP to scale global gaming and pop culture experiences
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has appointed Sonal Varma as global director of live events, bringing on board a seasoned architect of fan communities as the company accelerates its global push in gaming, esports and youth culture.
Varma steps into the role with more than 15 years of experience creating large-scale fan experiences and cultural platforms. She is best known for her long stint at Comic Con India, where she most recently served as vice president and helped transform the convention into one of the country’s most recognisable pop culture gatherings.
At Nodwin Gaming, Varma will lead the strategy, design and execution of the company’s global live event initiatives. Her mandate includes expanding flagship intellectual properties and developing new formats that bring gaming communities together across emerging markets.
Over the years, Varma has been closely associated with building and scaling community-led events such as Comic Con India, Geekly and the Indian Cosplay Championship. Her work has focused on turning niche fandoms into thriving cultural ecosystems by blending entertainment, creator culture and brand partnerships.
Her appointment comes at a time when Nodwin Gaming is expanding its international events footprint through properties such as DreamHack India, NH7 Weekender, Comic Con India and the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series. The company has also been growing its presence across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa through esports tournaments, gaming festivals and fan conventions.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee, said Varma’s experience in building fan-centric platforms would play a key role in the company’s next phase of growth.
“Sonal brings a deep understanding of how live experiences can bring communities together around gaming and pop culture. As we expand our global live events footprint, her experience will help us create experiences that feel authentic and meaningful for audiences across markets,” he said.
Varma said the scale of opportunity at Nodwin Gaming made the move particularly exciting.
“Joining Nodwin Gaming at this moment feels incredibly exciting because the canvas is so large. There are new audiences, new markets and new formats waiting to be explored. I’m looking forward to working with teams across the network to create live experiences that celebrate gaming culture while staying rooted in the communities that power it,” she said.
Over the past few years, Nodwin Gaming has built an ecosystem that stretches across competitive gaming, creator communities, music festivals and youth culture platforms. With Varma now leading global live events, the company is looking to further expand its flagship properties while experimenting with new formats that blend gaming, entertainment and fandom for audiences around the world.
