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iQOO appoints Shwetank Pandey as its first-ever chief gaming officer
Mumbai: Shwetank Pandey, a 23-year-old from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, has been chosen as iQOO’s first ever chief gaming officer after a three-month long nationwide hunt. Shwetank was the last man standing amongst over 60,000 applicants, who applied to become one of India’s youngest chief gaming officers with iQOO, the high performance smartphone brand. Shwetank was appointed after an exhilarating selection process that spanned across criterions of gameplay, gaming knowledge, and personality & communication skills.
Shwetank is a police officer’s son from small town Kanpur. An avid gamer, Shwetank was always inclined toward gaming and esports. In a fascinating turn of events earlier in his career, he committed himself to a year-long job solely to save up for a new phone, for playing his favorite game, BGMI. Once he cleared all his EMIs, he fearlessly left the job, even when a promotion with thrice his current salary was offered to him. Not stopping there, he even walked away from his MBA studies, prioritising his passion above all else to choose gaming as a career.
Expressing his joy over becoming iQOO’s first ever chief gaming officer, Shwetank said, “I feel on top of the world right now. When I initially filled out the form, I was reluctant and hoped to be among the finalists. Little did I know that it would lead me this far and eventually result in becoming iQOO’s first ever CGO. The finalists I met in Mumbai were all good gamers and great individuals. I am grateful to be chosen amongst them and thankful to iQOO and the jury for providing aspiring gamers like me with such a big platform.”
Welcoming iQOO’s chief gaming officer, iQOO CEO Nipun Marya said, “This is an iconic moment in the Indian Smartphone industry and we are over the moon to have found the person who embodies our vision for this role. The DNA of iQOO is to bring in ‘I Quest On and On’ and Shwetank was never short of his peak performance across all rounds of the hunt. With him joining us, we intend to drive a more dynamic and fresher perspective to our products and initiatives for the younger gaming enthusiasts in the country. All of us at iQOO are excited to have him on board, and we are confident that he will excel in fulfilling the duties aligned for him.”
From competing in the gaming rounds, qualifying through the group discussions and finally clearing the audition round with Rannvijay Singha, Mythpat and Nipun as jury, Shwetank has overcome 60,000 talented Gen Z gamers entries across over 500 Indian cities to emerge triumphant. He will now be working closely with the leadership team at iQOO and will be assisting in sharing gaming insights to build a complete smartphone package for gamers. Not only that, he will also get an opportunity to collaborate with top gamers across India, all this while earning a remuneration of Rs 10 Lakhs.
In addition to the chief gaming officer role, iQOO has also appointed two zonal CGOs to the dynamic team. Aojesh Shrivastava from Delhi and Battu Nikhil Reddy (Shoutout YT), Hyderabad. They will be working directly with Shwetank, CGO, iQOO to align strategies, enhance community engagement, and ensure that the gaming experience for iQOO users continues to be exceptional. They will earn a compensation of Rs 2.5 lakh each for their pivotal roles.
Aojesh Shrivastava, who hails from Delhi, has a deep understanding of the gaming landscape in the region. His experience and passion for gaming make him an ideal choice to foster connections and create enriching experiences for gamers within the capital city and its surroundings. Battu Nikhil Reddy, widely recognised as Shoutout YT in the gaming community, brings his extensive knowledge and influence to the role of zonal CGO for Hyderabad. With a strong online presence and an engaged audience, Nikhil will be instrumental in amplifying iQOO’s engagement and initiatives within the gaming community of Hyderabad.
The main objective behind the CGO role is to assure that iQOO is providing seamless and top-notch experiences to its valued consumers across all aspects. With a strong focus on user satisfaction, iQOO continues to look for innovative ways to enhance customer experiences. In the future, the brand is committed to introducing similar initiatives to engage with its users and to better understand their needs.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
