FIFS Appoints Bimal Julka as its New Chairman

The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) has appointed Bimal Julka as its chairman. Julka will work with the stakeholders in the fantasy sports industry in India to strengthen the industry’s operating standards.

Julka is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer of the 1979 batch of the Madhya Pradesh Cadre. He has over four decades of experience of working in several senior positions with the Govt. of India. He also served as the Chief Information Commissioner with the Government of India, until September 2020.

As per a report in ETBrandEquity, Julka said, “Fantasy sports is a new and disruptive industry that has great potential to strengthen and promote sports in India through meaningful fan engagement. While fantasy sports is seeing unprecedented growth in both users and operators, there arises an equal need to protect the users and promote responsible growth. I am happy to be part of FIFS and look forward to supporting and guiding the fantasy sports industry in achieving its full potential by affirming high standards and self-regulation.”

Anwar Shirpurwala, CEO of FIFS, said, “We are very fortunate to have Bimal Julka join FIFS as the Chairman. His impeccable reputation and principles of good governance precede him. Having such a senior dignitary, like Julka, representing fantasy sports will strengthen the industry’s credibility, and we are sure to witness new strides towards reformations and standardisation of the rapidly growing fantasy sports industry.”

Before Julka, John Loffhagen served as the organization’s chairman for over three years. Loffhagen will continue with FIFS as a strategic advisor and help it collaborate with relevant international bodies.