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Introduction
Search in India has evolved beyond rankings to focus on relevance, intelligence, and measurable business impact. As AI-driven discovery accelerates and user behaviour shifts across platforms, SEO within digital agencies has transformed into a strategic growth function—integrating content, technology, performance, and AI-led visibility. “100 Digital Agency Search Leaders Reshaping Search in India” spotlights professionals redefining how search is planned, executed, and measured across agencies—from enterprise SEO and Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) to content-led growth, e-commerce search, and AI-first discovery. Together, they represent the future of organic visibility in India’s digital ecosystem.
Lokesh Maurya | Associate Director – SEO, GroupM: Lokesh Maurya is a growth-focused SEO leader at GroupM, known for driving organic scale through content-led search strategies and product development. With experience spanning media, news publishing, healthcare, BFSI, and e-commerce, he brings a rare blend of editorial SEO and performance-driven growth. His work at leading media and agency brands positions him at the forefront of how content distribution and search intersect in India’s digital ecosystem.
Nitin Sharma | Associate Vice President – Search, RepIndia: With over 14 years of experience, Nitin Sharma is a seasoned search leader driving large-scale SEO growth for RepIndia’s global clients across India, the US, and the Middle East. Known for his strong execution-focused approach, he blends technical SEO, analytics, and conversion strategy to deliver measurable business impact. His leadership across multi-geo campaigns positions him as a key force shaping enterprise search strategies in India’s digital agency landscape.
Kavin Paulson | Group Head – SEO, Havas Media Network: With 15 years of experience, Kavin Paulson is a veteran search leader shaping the future of SEO at Havas Media Network. He has built and scaled global SEO operations across APAC, the UK, South Africa, and India, while leading high-impact strategies for marquee brands. At the forefront of AI-led search, Kavin is driving Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) initiatives, redefining how agencies approach search in the age of AI.
Sanal Suraj | SEO – Group Head, Publicis Groupe: With over 8 years of experience, Sanal Suraj is a data-driven SEO leader driving large-scale, enterprise search strategies at Publicis Groupe. He has led technical SEO for global brands including Microsoft and Google-owned properties, managing complex multi-market projects across India, EMEA, and the US. Known for integrating SEO with performance marketing and CRM, Sanal is reshaping how search delivers measurable business impact at scale.
Rishabh Pathania | SEO Director, Interactive Avenues: With over 12 years of experience, Rishabh Pathania is a strategic SEO leader driving performance-led search growth at Interactive Avenues. He is known for building and mentoring high-impact teams while managing large, multi-client portfolios with a strong focus on data-driven decision-making. By integrating SEO with content and cross-channel strategies, Rishabh is helping reshape how agencies deliver scalable and measurable search outcomes in India.
Rajat J. | Account Director – SEO, Cheil India: Rajat J. is a forward-thinking SEO leader at Cheil India, driving large-scale search strategies for global consumer electronics and D2C brands. Known for integrating AI into SEO workflows, he blends human insight with automation to deliver smarter, faster, and data-backed outcomes. His expertise in aligning SEO with paid media, content, and business goals is redefining enterprise-level search in India.
Karthikeyan SM | SEO Group Head, HiveMinds: Karthikeyan SM is a forward-looking SEO leader at HiveMinds, known for driving sustainable organic growth through intent-led, data-driven strategies. With a strong focus on AI-powered SEO, SGE readiness, and entity-based optimization, he helps brands future-proof their search visibility. His work across leading Indian and global brands positions him as a key voice shaping the next phase of search innovation in India.
Anchal Malik | Director – SEO, Dentsu: Anchal Malik is a seasoned SEO leader at Dentsu, driving large-scale organic growth through strategic, data-led search frameworks. With over a decade of experience across e-commerce, international SEO, and technical optimization, she excels at aligning search strategy with business objectives. Known for her leadership across cross-functional teams, Anchal is helping redefine how global brands approach search in India’s evolving digital landscape.
Anoop D. | Associate Vice President – SEO, ARM Worldwide: With over a decade of hands-on SEO experience, Anoop D. is a seasoned search leader driving data-led growth across SEO, ASO, YouTube, and content marketing at ARM Worldwide. Known for his strong technical foundation and e-commerce expertise, he has led high-impact optimization strategies that consistently improve organic visibility and performance. His ability to align search strategy with business outcomes makes him a key force reshaping digital search in India’s agency ecosystem.
Abhishek Patil | SEO Manager, Madison World: Abhishek Patil is a results-driven SEO leader with hands-on experience across agency and enterprise environments, driving impactful search strategies at Madison World. With a strong foundation in SEO, SEM, and digital advertising, he blends data, content, and AI-led insights to improve visibility and performance. His journey across Accenture, eClerx, and high-growth platforms reflects a sharp understanding of scalable, business-focused search in India’s evolving digital landscape.
Vishal Shah | Senior Vice President – SEO, iProspect: Vishal Shah is a seasoned search leader with over a decade of experience shaping enterprise-scale SEO strategies across top digital agencies. At iProspect, he drives large, high-impact search programs, blending technical SEO, ORM, and performance-led frameworks for sustained growth. Known for his deep expertise in complex website transformations and strategic leadership, Vishal continues to redefine how search delivers long-term business value in India.
Shikhu Kohli | Head – SEO, Mirum India (VML): Shikhu Kohli is a seasoned SEO leader with over a decade of experience driving high-impact search strategies across e-commerce, travel, BFSI, and education sectors. As Head of SEO at Mirum India, she blends technical expertise, content strategy, and ASO to deliver scalable organic growth. Known for building strong teams and business-focused SEO frameworks, Shikhu is playing a key role in reshaping search excellence within India’s digital agency ecosystem.
Mrugank Desai | Head of Media, SEO & Content, Schbang: Mrugank Desai is a dynamic search and media leader at Schbang, driving integrated SEO, content, and media strategies for some of India’s leading brands. With a strong entrepreneurial background and deep experience across media planning, content, and search, he bridges performance with brand storytelling. His cross-channel leadership is helping redefine how modern agencies approach search as part of a unified growth engine.
Karthikeyan Maruthai | Digital Marketing Manager, echoVME: With over 15 years of experience, Karthikeyan Maruthai is a veteran digital marketer driving consistent organic growth at echoVME. Known for his deep expertise in SEO, PPC, and content-led strategies, he has successfully delivered large-scale projects with measurable improvements in traffic, conversions, and brand visibility. His hands-on, results-focused approach continues to shape how search-led growth is executed across India’s digital agency ecosystem.
Vasant Tari | SEO Group Head, FCB Kinnect: Vasant Tari is a strategic SEO leader at FCB Kinnect, known for driving high-impact search programs across competitive digital ecosystems. With a strong foundation in computer science and marketing, he blends technical expertise with business-focused SEO and e-commerce strategy. His cross-agency and enterprise experience enables him to deliver scalable, performance-driven search solutions for leading brands in India.
Hari Haran | Senior Group Head – Search, Grey: Hari Haran is a data-driven search leader blending SEO and SEM to deliver measurable, full-funnel growth for leading brands at Grey. With deep expertise in technical SEO, performance marketing, and analytics, he builds agile strategies that improve visibility, lead quality, and ROI. Known for scaling impact through innovation, AI-led search optimization, and strong cross-functional leadership, he is reshaping how search drives business outcomes in India.
Manish Shrivastava | Digital Marketing Director, Dentsu Webchutney: With over 12 years of experience, Manish Shrivastava is a seasoned digital and search leader driving large-scale SEO, SEM, and analytics-led growth for some of India’s biggest brands. At Dentsu Webchutney, he blends deep technical expertise with data-driven strategy to deliver measurable business impact. Known for integrating SEO with analytics, GTM, and performance marketing, Manish continues to shape how enterprise brands approach search in India’s evolving digital landscape.
Surbhi Jaiswal | SEO Team Lead, EZ Rankings: Surbhi Jaiswal is an emerging SEO leader at EZ Rankings, driving e-commerce-focused search growth through strong on-page and off-page optimization strategies. With hands-on expertise across analytics and keyword research tools, she has steadily progressed into a team leadership role. Her execution-driven approach and focus on measurable results reflect the new generation of search professionals reshaping agency SEO in India.
Nandita Raman | Vice President – Growth & SEO, Social Beat: Nandita Raman is a growth-focused SEO and content leader at Social Beat, known for blending storytelling with performance-driven search strategies. With deep expertise across B2B and B2C sectors, she has helped brands scale organic traffic and lead generation through integrated SEO, content, and video strategies. Her leadership in multilingual and content-led SEO is reshaping how brands drive sustainable growth through search in India.
Austin Dsouza | Senior SEO Manager, FCB Group India: Austin Dsouza is a seasoned SEO professional with 8+ years of experience driving impactful search strategies within large agency ecosystems. At FCB Group India, he blends strong technical SEO expertise with a holistic digital marketing mindset. Known for adaptability, clear communication, and data-led thinking, he represents a new-age search leader focused on continuous learning and scalable growth.
Faisal Ansari | Head of SEO Strategy, FCB Kinnect:Faisal Ansari leads SEO strategy at FCB Kinnect, driving digital growth through innovative, performance-led search solutions for multiple high-impact clients. With experience across agencies, e-commerce, and content-driven platforms, he brings a sharp growth mindset to modern SEO. His work focuses on enhancing visibility, scalability, and long-term search value in India’s evolving digital landscape.
Nimish Wadekar | Group Head – SEO & SEM, Dentsu Creative: Nimish Wadekar is a seasoned search marketing leader with over a decade of experience across SEO and SEM in leading agency environments. At Dentsu Creative, he drives integrated search strategies that balance organic growth with performance-led media execution. Known for his expertise across e-commerce, BFSI, and content-led search, Nimish plays a key role in reshaping scalable, ROI-focused search frameworks for modern brands in India.
Tapan Mahato | Group Head – SEO & SEM, NP Digital: Tapan Mahato is a results-driven search leader with over a decade of experience building high-impact SEO and organic growth strategies across agency and publisher ecosystems. Currently at NP Digital (Neil Patel Digital India), he drives enterprise-level search transformation backed by data, content, and technical excellence. An award-winning strategist, Tapan is known for scaling competitive brands like Myntra and reshaping how large businesses approach sustainable search growth in India.
Karthik Nair | SEO Head, BC Web Wise: Karthik Nair is a strategic SEO leader with over eight years of experience driving high-impact search programs across EdTech, FMCG, Finance, and Telecom. Known for translating business objectives into scalable, data-driven SEO strategies, he excels at stakeholder alignment and performance ownership. His work spans award-winning campaigns, thought leadership, and AI-led innovation, helping reshape modern search in India’s digital agency ecosystem.
Shashi Vishwakarma | SEO Group Head, LS Digital: Shashi Vishwakarma is a results-driven SEO leader at LS Digital, with extensive experience across technical SEO, e-commerce optimization, and performance-led search strategy. Rising from SEO Executive to Group Head, she brings strong execution expertise in audits, content, and keyword strategy. Her hands-on, data-focused approach plays a key role in shaping scalable and high-impact search programs for brands in India’s competitive digital ecosystem.
Tejas Thakkar | Senior Vice President – SEO and Content, Logicserve Digital: Tejas Thakkar is a seasoned SEO and content strategist with over 15 years of experience driving organic growth at Logicserve Digital. Rising through the ranks from SEO Executive to SVP, he combines deep technical expertise with leadership in content strategy and team management. His long-term vision and data-driven approach continue to shape impactful search campaigns across industries in India.
Ankit Thakkar | AVP – Digital Growth, Infidigit: Ankit Thakkar is a growth-focused SEO leader at Infidigit, known for driving measurable organic revenue impact across leading Indian brands. With a strong blend of engineering, marketing, and product-thinking, he builds scalable SEO frameworks powered by data and innovation. His journey from execution to leadership reflects a results-driven approach that is reshaping how search contributes to business growth in India.
Shivaji Dubey | AVP – Digital Marketing, Teamwork Arts Pvt. Ltd.: With over 13 years of experience, Shivaji Dubey is a versatile digital marketing leader driving search-led brand growth across culture, media, and events. At Teamwork Arts, he blends SEO and SEM with content and social strategies to build strong digital visibility and engaged communities. Known for scaling marquee platforms like the Jaipur Literature Festival’s YouTube channel, Shivaji continues to reshape how storytelling and search intersect in India’s digital ecosystem.
Nishant Mehta | SEO Strategy Head, Gozoop Pvt. Ltd.: Nishant Mehta is a seasoned search professional with deep-rooted expertise in building and scaling SEO strategies over the long term. At Gozoop, he brings a strong technical and business-first approach to search, helping brands achieve sustainable organic growth. With entrepreneurial experience and years of hands-on leadership, Nishant continues to shape outcome-driven SEO frameworks in India’s agency ecosystem.
Shashank Saxena | Group Head – SEO, SocialPanga: Shashank Saxena is a results-driven search leader known for building high-impact SEO strategies within full-funnel digital ecosystems. At SocialPanga, he blends SEO with performance marketing, analytics, and automation to drive measurable ROI for leading B2B, B2C, and DTC brands. With hands-on expertise across 360° digital channels, Shashank is helping redefine how search fuels business growth in India.
Powered By: Built for a world where AI shapes every discovery journey, SEORCE helps brands stay visible, relevant, and competitive. It combines AI-powered SEO, real-time visibility tracking, and automation so teams can understand search performance faster and improve outcomes with precision. What sets SEORCE apart is its ability to simplify complexity—turning messy data into clear insights marketers can act on instantly. Founder Sudhir Vashist drives this vision with a commitment to transparency, measurable growth, and empowering brands to thrive in the AI-driven search era.
Mahesh Sivakumar | Senior SEO Analyst, Spinta Digital: Mahesh Sivakumar represents the new-age search leadership shaping India’s AI-first SEO future. At Spinta Digital, he drives scalable organic growth by blending technical SEO with advanced frameworks like AEO, GEO, SXO, and AI-powered optimization. With a strong focus on semantic search, automation, and conversion-led strategies, Mahesh is redefining how modern search performance is built for e-commerce and SaaS brands.
Sanjay Kumar | Director SEO, Techmagnate: Sanjay Kumar is a data-driven search leader with over a decade of experience scaling enterprise SEO for India’s largest BFSI, SaaS, and e-commerce brands. At Techmagnate, he leads a 30+ member SEO division, driving revenue-aligned growth for highly regulated YMYL industries. A pioneer of AEO and GEO in India, Sanjay is reshaping search visibility in AI- and LLM-powered search ecosystems.
Pankaj Kumar Sahu | Head of SEO , DVIO Digital: With over 13 years of deep expertise in SEO, Pankaj Kumar Sahu is a driving force behind DVIO Digital’s search-led growth strategies. He specializes in next-gen optimization across GEO, AEO, LLM-led search, ASO, YouTube SEO, and marketplace search, helping brands stay visible in evolving discovery ecosystems. Having led campaigns for 250+ clients across industries, Pankaj is reshaping search through scalable, future-ready, and performance-focused digital frameworks in India.
Shubhangi Konde | Associate Team Lead – SEO, SRV Media: Shubhangi Konde has grown through the SEO ranks at SRV Media to become a key leader driving data-backed search strategies. With hands-on experience across technical SEO, campaign execution, and team leadership, she plays a crucial role in scaling organic visibility for diverse brands. Her steady focus on performance, process, and evolving search trends makes her a rising force in India’s digital agency SEO landscape.
Munish Saini | Team Lead – SEO, Cronbay Technologies: With over 15 years of experience in growth and search marketing, Munish Saini brings a strong blend of strategic thinking and executional depth to digital agency SEO. At Cronbay Technologies, he leads high-impact SEO teams, driving technical excellence, scalable keyword frameworks, and measurable ROI for clients. His hands-on approach to audits, analytics, and cross-functional collaboration positions him as a seasoned search leader shaping modern SEO in India.
Sandeep Srivastava | SEO Director, Tangence: With over a decade of experience across leading digital agencies, Sandeep Srivastava is a data-driven SEO leader known for building scalable and performance-focused search strategies. Having led SEO at NP Digital, Grapes Digital, and now Tangence, he has played a key role in driving enterprise-level organic growth. His deep understanding of search behavior, analytics, and team leadership positions him as a steady force reshaping India’s evolving search ecosystem.
Hariharan PV | Key Account Manager-SEO, Growth Hackers: Hariharan PV represents a new-generation SEO leader building for the future of search in India. At Growth Hackers, he drives category-level search dominance while actively experimenting with LLM optimization, Reddit SEO, and AI-driven discovery across platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini. Blending hands-on execution with sharp client and team leadership, he is shaping how agencies adapt to the next evolution of search.
Sunil Pratap Singh | Chief Operating Officer – SEO Division, Social Pill: Sunil Pratap Singh is a seasoned SEO leader driving enterprise-scale organic growth through advanced technical SEO and AI-led search strategies. As COO of Social Pill’s SEO division, he blends operational leadership with hands-on execution to deliver measurable, revenue-focused outcomes for high-growth brands. An early adopter of agentic and LLM-driven search optimization, he is helping Indian businesses future-proof their visibility in the evolving search ecosystem.
Prashant Saini | Group Head SEO – Organic Growth, Hashtag Orange: With nearly 15 years of experience in digital marketing, Prashant Saini is a strategic force behind scalable organic growth and e-commerce success. At Hashtag Orange, he leads advanced SEO initiatives spanning AEO, GEO, LLM optimization, and AI-led search transformation. Known for strong research depth and team leadership, he is helping brands adapt to the next phase of search-driven digital growth in India.
Gaurav Shishodia | Group Head – Organic Search, Adglobal360: With over 13 years of deep expertise in SEO, ASO, and GMB marketing, Gaurav Shishodia is a seasoned leader driving large-scale organic growth at Adglobal360. Having successfully delivered 200+ SEO projects across India, the US, UK, Australia, and the Gulf, he brings a strong global perspective to search strategy. His ability to decode search algorithms and deliver consistent rankings positions him as a key force reshaping organic search in India’s agency ecosystem.
Amit Kumar | SEO Group Head, AdGlobal360 (AGL – Hakuhodo): Amit Kumar has grown through the ranks to lead SEO at one of India’s leading digital transformation agencies. With deep expertise in audits, analytics, hyperlocal SEO, and large-scale team management, he drives enterprise-grade search strategies that align performance, technology, and brand growth.
Pravin Kumar | SEO Head, AdLift: With 16+ years of experience spanning SEO, PPC, CRO, ASO, and next-gen AI-driven search (AEO, GEO, LLM SEO), Pravin Kumar is a well-rounded search leader shaping modern organic growth. At AdLift, he drives integrated, performance-led SEO strategies for B2C, D2C, and eCommerce brands. His blend of technical expertise, growth hacking mindset, and creative thinking positions him at the forefront of India’s evolving search ecosystem.
Prithviraj Pednekar | Practice Head – SEO & AI, RankUno: With over a decade of experience at RankUno, Prithviraj Pednekar has grown through the ranks to lead SEO and AI-driven search strategy as Practice Head. He brings deep hands-on expertise in building scalable organic frameworks, managing large SEO teams, and delivering consistent growth for enterprise and mid-market brands. His focus on blending traditional SEO with AI-led optimization positions him as a key force reshaping India’s evolving search landscape.
Azeem | SEO Manager, Adworth Media Pvt. Ltd.: Azeem is a hands-on SEO leader focused on turning search traffic into measurable business outcomes. At Adworth Media, he drives organic growth and lead generation through performance-led SEO, SEM, and integrated digital strategies. With experience across agency and independent roles, he brings a practical, results-first approach to reshaping how brands leverage search in India’s competitive digital ecosystem.
Pranav Shaji | Head of SEO, Netstager Technologies Pvt. Ltd.: Pranav Shaji is an e-commerce SEO specialist and emerging search leader driving performance-led organic growth at Netstager Technologies. With hands-on experience across agency and brand ecosystems, he blends technical SEO with content and conversion optimization. Beyond client work, he actively contributes to India’s SEO community as a founder, educator, and creator—reshaping search through innovation, learning, and regional outreach.
Xaviar X | SEO Manager, Growify Digital: Xaviar X is a results-driven SEO leader with 6+ years of experience scaling e-commerce and Shopify brands through data-led search strategies. Having managed 30+ Shopify stores, he blends technical SEO, content optimization, and user-intent mapping to drive sustainable growth. His hands-on approach to client management and performance SEO positions him as a rising force in India’s evolving search ecosystem.
Saman Ali | SEO Manager, Popkorn: Saman Ali is a performance-focused SEO leader driving organic growth through sharp website optimization, content strategy, and CRO-led search execution. With hands-on experience managing high-impact government and enterprise projects, she blends client servicing expertise with scalable SEO frameworks. Her work continues to strengthen brand visibility and measurable outcomes in India’s competitive search landscape.
Nishant Gehlot | Head of SEO, NoFluff: Nishant Gehlot leads SEO at NoFluff with a sharp, psychology-driven approach that blends data, search intent, and buyer behaviour to engineer sustainable organic growth. With strong expertise in keyword research, link building, and CRO-led SEO, he focuses on turning visibility into conversions. His work reflects a modern, science-backed approach to search, reshaping how brands attract and convert audiences in India.
Deepak Gupta | SEO Head, Lyxel&Flamingo: Deepak Gupta is a seasoned SEO leader with extensive experience driving organic growth for both domestic and global brands. As SEO Head at Lyxel&Flamingo, he leads integrated search strategies spanning SEO, YouTube SEO, ASO, and Amazon SEO. His multi-platform expertise and analytics-led approach continue to shape performance-driven search outcomes in India’s digital ecosystem.
Siddharth Ramteke | SEO Manager, Amura Marketing Technologies: Siddharth Ramteke is a seasoned SEO professional with over seven years of hands-on experience in building scalable, performance-driven search strategies. At Amura Marketing Technologies, he leads SEO and e-commerce optimisation initiatives, driving measurable growth through data-backed execution. His journey from senior executive to manager reflects a deep understanding of search, analytics, and team leadership in India’s agency ecosystem.
Lijo George | Digital Marketing Manager, Hash Connect Integrated Services: Lijo George brings over a decade of experience in search, performance marketing, and local SEO, helping brands strengthen their digital visibility at scale. At Hash Connect, he drives impactful search and performance-led initiatives for leading retail and consumer brands across India. A certified Google Ads professional and seasoned trainer, Lijo has also shaped the next generation of digital marketers through academic and industry platforms.
Yashpal Singh | Manager of Marketing & Team Lead, Crux Creative Solutions: Yashpal Singh is a goal-driven search and digital marketing leader with over five years of experience shaping data-led SEO and growth strategies. At Crux Creative Solutions, he leads integrated search, content, and performance initiatives, combining automation, analytics, and strategic planning to drive scalable results. His hands-on expertise across SEO tools, paid media, and marketing automation reflects a process-first approach to sustainable search growth.
Sakshi Thakkar | Business Head – SEO & PR (Films), Excellent Publicity: Sakshi Thakkar is a dynamic search and PR leader driving digital visibility in India’s film and entertainment ecosystem. As Business Head at Excellent Publicity, she integrates SEO, media strategy, and PR to shape strong online narratives for film brands and personalities. With a marketing-driven approach and sharp communication skills, she represents the new-age leadership redefining search through storytelling and influence.
Tiasha Das | Associate Director – SEO, WebenzaL: With 9+ years of deep expertise in SEO, Tiasha Das is at the forefront of blending search, AI, and evolving algorithms to drive sustainable organic growth. She has led large-scale, multi-vertical SEO programs, managing P&L ownership, enterprise migrations, and AI-powered strategies with measurable business impact. Known for her leadership-driven approach, Tiasha continues to shape modern search by aligning technical excellence, content, and data-led decision-making.
Bharath Kumar | Head of Digital, BrandStory Digital: With over 8 years of experience in digital marketing, Bharath Kumar leads integrated digital strategies that drive brand visibility and measurable business growth. His expertise spans SEO, SEM, SMM, and performance-driven campaigns, with a strong focus on ROI and audience-centric execution. Known for managing cross-functional teams and digital transformation initiatives, Bharath is shaping scalable and results-oriented search-led marketing in India.
Yuvraj Singh | Sr. Project Manager – SEO & SMO, SEOValley Solutions: With nearly two decades of hands-on experience, Yuvraj Singh is a veteran in off-page SEO, link-building strategy, and team leadership. At SEOValley Solutions, he has played a pivotal role in managing large-scale SEO projects, training teams, and driving sustainable organic growth for global clients. His deep expertise in off-page optimization and local business marketing continues to shape strong search foundations in India’s digital agency ecosystem.
Piyush Sharma | Senior Manager, PageTraffic: With over a decade of experience at PageTraffic, Piyush Sharma has been instrumental in driving revenue growth through strategic SEO, paid media, and social marketing solutions. Known for crafting personalized, ROI-focused digital strategies, he blends innovation with execution to deliver measurable business impact. His client-first mindset and deep understanding of evolving digital trends make him a key force shaping performance-driven search marketing in India.
Abhilash Tyagi | SEO Lead, Sociowash: With nearly a decade of SEO expertise, Abhilash Tyagi leads the SEO vertical at Sociowash, driving sustainable organic growth through intent-led, technically sound search strategies. Known for his deep focus on technical SEO, content optimization, and local search, he helps brands build trust, relevance, and long-term visibility. His data-driven approach and leadership in adapting SEO for evolving search and LLM landscapes position him as a strong force reshaping search performance in India.
Sonal A. Indolikar | SEO Director, IPG Mediabrands: With a strong blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership, Sonal Indolikar brings years of experience in driving enterprise-level SEO across Indian and global markets. From audits and strategy to project planning and client communication, she has led high-impact SEO programs with a data-driven approach. Her continuous focus on evolving search trends and certifications positions her as a key leader shaping modern search strategy in India’s digital agency ecosystem.
Israr Ahmad | Senior Manager – SEO, Auburn Digital Solutions: Israr Ahmad represents the new generation of search leaders bridging traditional SEO with AI-first discovery. With experience across Publicis, AdLift, and Auburn Digital, he specializes in GEO, AEO, and AI SEO strategies that help brands stay visible across SERPs and AI-powered answer engines. His work focuses on future-proofing search growth in an evolving ecosystem.
Swati Chakole | SEO Manager, BrandLoom Consulting: Swati Chakole is a results-driven SEO and Local Search specialist with a strong focus on measurable business impact. With extensive experience across Google SEO, analytics, and SEM, she helps brands improve visibility, traffic, and conversions through data-backed strategies. Her expertise lies in making search work as a growth engine, not just a ranking tool.
Yash Jain | VP – Paid Media & SEO, Team Pumpkin: Yash Jain leads integrated performance and search strategies at Team Pumpkin, driving scale across SEO, paid media, analytics, and marketing technology. With nearly a decade of experience, he blends data, automation, and strategic oversight to deliver ROI-driven growth. His leadership reflects the convergence of performance marketing and modern search.
Pawan Yadav | Head of Media & SEO, Crescent Communication: With over a decade in digital marketing, Pawan Yadav has built and scaled SEO and media teams across agencies and brands. His strength lies in aligning search strategy with media planning and business objectives to drive sustained organic growth. He plays a key role in shaping integrated digital visibility frameworks.
Medha Parashar | Associate Partner & Vice President – Growth, Grapes Worldwide: A veteran of the Indian SEO ecosystem, Medha Parashar has over 17 years of experience transforming content into revenue-driven growth. Known for her expertise in semantic SEO, B2B strategy, and LLM-focused search, she has helped 75+ brands globally connect SEO with real business outcomes. Her work redefines SEO beyond traffic—towards conversions and impact.
Rahul Kumar | SEO Manager, Digital Web Solutions: Rahul Kumar has grown from execution to leadership over a decade-long journey at Digital Web Solutions. As an SEO Manager, he leads large teams and complex campaigns, delivering consistent organic growth across global clients. His hands-on approach and operational discipline make him a key driver of scalable SEO delivery.
Ajay Padhy | SEO Head, Ethinos: Ajay Padhy is a digital growth leader known for building scalable SEO operations and high-performing teams. With experience across enterprise brands and performance ecosystems, he combines deep SEO expertise with systems thinking and process-driven execution. His leadership focuses on clarity, consistency, and sustainable business results through search.
Neel K. | Senior Performance Marketing Executive, Asymmetrique: Neel Katrodia blends performance marketing precision with strong SEO fundamentals to drive measurable growth across paid and organic channels. With over seven years of experience, he has optimized high-impact campaigns across Google and Meta platforms while strengthening search visibility through technical SEO and conversion-focused strategies. His work reflects the growing convergence of performance and search in India’s digital ecosystem.
Powered By: Built for a world where AI shapes every discovery journey, SEORCE helps brands stay visible, relevant, and competitive. It combines AI-powered SEO, real-time visibility tracking, and automation so teams can understand search performance faster and improve outcomes with precision. What sets SEORCE apart is its ability to simplify complexity—turning messy data into clear insights marketers can act on instantly. Founder Sudhir Vashist drives this vision with a commitment to transparency, measurable growth, and empowering brands to thrive in the AI-driven search era.
Ketan Choudhari | Assistant Vice President – SEO, Big Trunk Communications: With over a decade of hands-on SEO leadership, Ketan Choudhari drives large-scale search strategies for enterprise brands across B2B, B2C, and D2C sectors. Known for his technical SEO depth, structured data expertise, and team leadership, he plays a pivotal role in shaping scalable, innovation-led search frameworks within agency environments.
Anup Srivastava | Associate Director – SEO Delivery Head, ThinkROI: Anup Srivastava is at the forefront of future-ready SEO, integrating AI-powered search, GEO, and SGE strategies into enterprise delivery models. With a strong focus on ROI-driven execution, he has successfully scaled SEO programs for Fortune 500 clients, aligning evolving search technologies with business outcomes across global markets.
Arun Gupta | Head of Digital Marketing, Think Tree Media House: Arun Gupta brings a holistic digital leadership approach, blending search, performance marketing, and brand strategy across diverse industries. With experience working on marquee brands, he leverages data, analytics, and consumer insights to build integrated digital campaigns that enhance visibility, engagement, and sustainable growth.
Deepankar Dey | Head – SEO, Savit Interactive: With over a decade in SEO and content strategy, Deepankar Dey has driven significant organic growth across B2B, B2C, and D2C brands. Known for building high-performing teams and integrating AI into SEO workflows, he consistently delivers first-page dominance through data-led, scalable search strategies.
Pratiksha Singh | SEO Specialist, McCann Worldgroup: Pratiksha Singh represents the new wave of search specialists blending traditional SEO with AEO and GEO for AI-driven discovery. With a strong command over technical SEO, analytics, and AI tools, she delivers measurable growth by aligning search visibility with CRO and business impact across global brand portfolios.
Sanjeev Pansotra | SEO Team Lead, Astha Technologies: Sanjeev Pansotra is a results-focused SEO leader known for transforming low-visibility websites into page-one performers. With deep expertise in local and technical SEO, he has consistently delivered sustainable organic growth across competitive markets, reinforcing SEO’s role as a long-term growth engine.
Ruchi P. | Senior Digital Marketing Specialist, WeBeeSocial: Ruchi combines SEO, performance marketing, and data-driven execution to enhance brand visibility and lead generation. With experience across integrated digital campaigns, she plays a key role in optimizing search-led growth strategies while adapting quickly to evolving platform and algorithm changes.
Conclusion
The future of search in India belongs to leaders who treat SEO as a growth engine, not a silo—uniting technology, content, AI, and performance. As discovery moves beyond traditional SERPs into AI answers, social platforms, marketplaces, and multimodal experiences, they are redefining agency-led search excellence. Their work prioritizes relevance over rankings and impact over activity. Together, they set new benchmarks for modern organic growth. This list captures the leadership shaping what search becomes next in India.
Disclaimer
The selection process involves rigorous evaluation but is based on subjective criteria, which may lead to variations. Parameters include industry influence, reputation, experience, contributions, education, accolades, and followership. While comprehensive assessments may not capture every aspect of a candidate’s profile. Selection does not imply endorsement or guaranteeing future performance. Feedback is welcome for improvement.
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