Mumbai: The Game Developer Association of India (GDAI), the apex industry body representing the Indian videogaming sector, has announced key additions to its executive and board leadership as part of its broader institutional scaling strategy.
As part of the GDAI leadership expansion, Shruti Verma, who previously led India operations at Epic Games, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer.
In addition, Sean (Hyunil) Sohn, Chief Executive of Krafton India, has joined the GDAI Board, while former Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB) Secretary Apurva Chandra has been appointed as Advisor to the Board.
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The GDAI leadership expansion brings together global industry expertise and senior policy experience, reinforcing the association’s commitment to structured governance and stronger engagement with policymakers.
Strengthening Core Governance Framework
The GDAI leadership expansion builds upon an already established leadership core that includes Manish Agarwal, Manvendra Shukul, Nitish Mittersain, Rajan Navani, Rajesh Rao, and Sridhar Muppidi.
The expansion comes at a time when India’s videogaming and interactive entertainment industry is witnessing accelerated growth in talent, studios, and international market participation.
Announced ahead of International Women’s Day, Shruti Verma’s transition from leading Epic Games’ India operations to heading the industry body reflects the increasing presence of women in senior leadership roles across India’s technology and videogaming ecosystem.
GDAI Leadership Expansion: Alignment with Vision 2035
The GDAI leadership expansion aligns closely with GDAI’s Vision 2035 – a long-term, industry-first roadmap aimed at positioning India among the world’s leading game development hubs. The vision seeks to enable creators, studios, and talent to build globally competitive intellectual property from India.
The strategic priorities under Vision 2035 include:
- Strengthening game development talent through structured education and skilling
- Enabling Indian studios to create globally resonant games rooted in innovation and Indian storytelling
- Advancing policy enablement with the government to establish a stable, future-forward regulatory framework
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By reinforcing governance structures and deepening policy engagement, the GDAI Leadership Expansion aims to accelerate these objectives.
Focus on Regulatory Clarity and Stability
Emphasising the need for forward-looking regulatory alignment, Apurva Chandra, Former Secretary, MIB and Advisor to the GDAI Board, said: “India has taken important steps in shaping the AVGC policy to support the video games sector. I look forward to contributing to clear, enabling regulatory frameworks that provide stability for industry while advancing India’s global competitiveness.”
His appointment signals a stronger bridge between industry stakeholders and government policymaking, particularly in the evolving AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) policy landscape.
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Global Industry Confidence in India’s Gaming Ecosystem
The induction of Sean (Hyunil) Sohn brings deep global operating and publishing expertise to the association’s leadership.
His presence reflects growing international confidence in India’s game development capabilities and strengthens GDAI’s commitment to connecting Indian studios with global best practices, capital access, and international markets.
Sean Sohn, Chief Executive, Krafton India and GDAI Board Member, stated: “India’s gaming sector stands at an inflection point, with scale, talent, and innovation converging. GDAI has helped create that momentum, and I look forward to supporting its efforts to deepen governance and strengthen India’s position in the global games industry.”
A Future-Ready Governance Model
On assuming the role of CEO, Shruti Verma said: “I am honoured to step into this responsibility at a pivotal moment for India’s videogaming ecosystem. As we strengthen GDAI’s executive leadership at the Board level, our focus will be on building a cohesive, future-ready framework that aligns policy, industry, and innovation.”
