Danish tournament organiser BLAST has appointed Charlie Cowdrey as the Chief Executive Officer of JioBLAST, its joint venture with Indian esports company RISE. The move marks a strategic leadership shift as BLAST accelerates its expansion into one of the world’s most promising esports markets.
Cowdrey, who previously served as Program Director for Fortnite and Rocket League at BLAST, will now lead the day-to-day operations of JioBLAST from Mumbai, where he will relocate in September 2025.
JioBLAST was officially launched in April 2025 through a partnership between BLAST and RISE, an Indian esports venture backed by prominent media and technology entities.
The joint venture is part of BLAST’s broader global expansion strategy, aiming to bring its signature high-production esports events and content to new and emerging markets.
Bringing this all together, there is no doubt that JioBLAST will supercharge the Indian esports industry
Charlie Cowdrey, Chief Executive Officer of JioBLAST
In parallel with Cowdrey’s appointment, JioBLAST has also begun recruiting for six new roles to support the growth of its operations. These positions span across content, broadcast, operations, and community engagement, further emphasizing the joint venture’s aim to “build the future of esports and competitive entertainment in India,” as described in BLAST’s official release.
JioBLAST aims to capitalize on this momentum by combining BLAST’s international expertise in tournament infrastructure with RISE’s regional insight and local partnerships.
