After a 3-month long nationwide hunt, iQOO has announced that it has selected Vedang Chavan, a 25-year-old esports coach and gamer from Mumbai, as the company’s new Chief Gaming Officer. CGO 2.0 attracted over 80,000 applicants from more than 400 cities and towns across India.
Chavan emerged as the winner after a rigorous evaluation process that tested participants on their gameplay skills, gaming knowledge, personality, and communication abilities.
The final decision was made by a jury panel that included Nipun Marya, CEO of iQOO India; Rannvijay Singha; Payal Gaming (Payal Dhare); and 8bit Thug (Animesh Agarwal). For his role as CGO, Chavan will receive a remuneration of ₹10 Lakh.
As the new Chief Gaming Officer, Chavan will collaborate with iQOO’s leadership team to provide insights aimed at enhancing the smartphone gaming experience. His responsibilities will also include engaging with the broader esports ecosystem and working with top gamers throughout India.
This is the second iteration of the CGO hunt, following the inaugural event in 2023 where Shwetank Pandey was appointed as the first CGO. The “CGO 2.0” initiative underscores the brand’s objective to support India’s expanding gaming community and recognize gaming as a viable professional path.
In a related announcement, iQOO has also appointed Harshvardhan as its official caster. Harshvardhan, who began his casting career two years ago, is a three-time winner of the Nodwin Gaming Talent Hunt, including a victory during BGIS 2024. His role will involve serving as a prominent voice for iQOO’s gaming initiatives across various platforms, leveraging his skills in storytelling, production, and match analysis to connect with the gaming community.
Expressing his excitement, Vedang said:
I’m genuinely overwhelmed and grateful to be named iQOO’s new Chief Gaming Officer. When I first came across this opportunity on LinkedIn, I saw it as the perfect way to challenge myself, a chance to grow, upgrade my skills, and do something meaningful in the esports space. And the fact that it was coming from a brand like iQOO made it even more exciting. I knew I had to give it my all. I never imagined it would take me all the way here. The competition rounds were intense, and the finalists I met along the way were all incredibly talented. I’ll never forget the video call with Nipun sir congratulating me, that’s a moment I’ll always treasure. This journey has been surreal, and I’m thankful to iQOO, the jury, and everyone who believed in me. I’m excited to now take this passion forward with iQOO and give back to the community that shaped me.
Welcoming Vedang, Nipun Marya, CEO, iQOO, said:
This is yet another iconic moment for the Indian smartphone industry, and we are proud to welcome Vedang as our new Chief Gaming Officer. Vedang perfectly embodies the spirit of ‘I Quest On and On’. His journey from grassroots gaming to leading top teams reflects the passion and perseverance we value at iQOO. With his experience as a player, coach, and mentor, we believe he will bring a sharper understanding of the gaming community and a fresh perspective to our gaming initiatives. All of us at iQOO are excited to have him join the family, and we are confident he will make a meaningful impact in this role.