Brands
NODWIN Gaming appoints Manish Agarwal as non-executive director
Move strengthens governance as esports firm sharpens focus on IPO readiness
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming has appointed Manish Agarwal to its board as a non-executive director, signalling a clear push towards stronger governance as the company prepares for a potential public listing.
Agarwal, known for his role in scaling and taking Nazara Technologies public, brings with him deep experience in public market readiness and institutional growth. His association with NODWIN dates back to its early days, when he helped lead Nazara’s investment into the company, giving him a long-term view of its evolution.
Currently, Agarwal is co-founder of KGeN, a global community-led gaming network backed by investors such as Accel and Prosus. He also founded Humyn Labs, which focuses on building human intelligence systems for AI using real-world data.
In his new role, Agarwal will work closely with the board and leadership team to strengthen strategic oversight and governance frameworks as NODWIN scales across markets and aligns itself with public market expectations.
“Having seen NODWIN’s journey from its early stages to becoming a leading force in youth culture and gaming, it’s been exciting to watch its evolution,” said KGeN & Humyn Labs co-founder Manish Agarwal. “As the company now prepares for its next phase, including its path towards public markets, I look forward to contributing to building a globally relevant and institutionally strong platform.”
Welcoming the move, NODWIN Gaming managing director and co-founder Akshat Rathee said Agarwal’s experience would be pivotal at this stage. “Manish has been a long-time partner in NODWIN’s journey, from leading Nazara Technologies’ investment into the company to now joining our Board at a crucial inflection point,” he said. “He brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial vision and public market experience that is incredibly valuable as we advance our pre-IPO journey.”
The appointment comes amid a broader leadership and governance build-out at NODWIN. The company recently brought back Sidharth Kedia to lead strategy and capital planning, and added Arnd Benninghoff to its board, alongside initiating a $100 million pre-IPO fundraise.
Financially, the company is riding strong momentum. After reporting Rs 524 crore in FY25, NODWIN has already surpassed that figure in the first three quarters of FY26, clocking Rs 530.3 crore in revenue while maintaining EBITDA-positive operations.
As India’s gaming and esports ecosystem continues to mature, NODWIN’s latest boardroom move suggests it is not just playing for scale, but also gearing up for the discipline and scrutiny that come with the public markets.
Brands
Ravikant Sabnavis steps down as CEO of Arha Media after three years
Exit marks end of stint leading regional OTT platform ARHA’s turnaround
MUMBAI: Ravikant Sabnavis has stepped down as chief executive officer of Arha Media & Broadcasting, drawing the curtain on a three-year stint during which he led the regional OTT platform Aha through a key phase of transformation.
Sabnavis, who joined Arha Media in February 2023, is credited with steering a financial turnaround at Aha, a platform focused on Telugu and Tamil content. His tenure saw efforts to stabilise operations and sharpen the platform’s positioning in an increasingly competitive streaming market.
His exit also signals a pause, and perhaps a pivot, in a long career spanning media, marketing and business transformation. Alongside his corporate roles, Sabnavis has been actively mentoring startups and entrepreneurs, working closely with early-stage ventures as part of networks such as TiE Mumbai and the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Before Arha Media, he served as CEO of Innovative Oral Care, where he built a direct-to-consumer oral care business leveraging clinical expertise. Earlier, at Star TV, he led regional channel Star Pravah, driving a turnaround that pushed it to a leading position in its category.
His career also includes a stint as managing director at Blitz Multimedia Pvt Ltd, where he worked on repositioning legacy media brands and unlocking new revenue streams.
While Sabnavis has not publicly outlined his next move, his continued involvement in mentoring and investing suggests he may stay close to the startup ecosystem.
For Arha Media, the leadership change comes at a time when regional OTT platforms are recalibrating for scale and sustainability. Sabnavis leaves behind a platform that is steadier than when he arrived, even as the next chapter for both the company and the executive begins to take shape.
