Ujwal Sharma Named Digital Marketing CEO of the Year 2026 for South Asia at the APAC CEO of the Year Awards

The 23-year-old entrepreneur from Kolkata receives the honour from APAC Insider for building digital ventures that serve international markets while representing the rise of a new generation of South Asian founders.

Kolkata, India - Entrepreneur and digital marketing leader Ujwal Sharma has been named Digital Marketing CEO of the Year 2026 for South Asia at the APAC CEO of the Year Awards presented by APAC Insider, recognising outstanding leadership and innovation across the Asia-Pacific business landscape.

Sharma is the Founder and CEO of Uzi World Digital, a digital marketing and public relations firm, and the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Empire Weekly, a global digital media publication focused on entertainment and culture. At 23, he is among the youngest entrepreneurs to receive recognition within the programme.

The APAC CEO of the Year Awards recognise business leaders across industries who demonstrate measurable success, innovation, and impact across the Asia-Pacific region. Winners are selected through a research-driven evaluation process conducted by APAC Insider's research team, which reviews publicly available information alongside nominee submissions. The selection process considers business performance, growth, diversification, innovation, and stakeholder feedback.

Sharma founded Uzi World Digital in 2019 at the age of sixteen. Over the past six years, the company has grown into a full-service digital marketing firm offering services including search engine optimisation, social media marketing, online advertising, web design, digital public relations, and online reputation management. The organisation operates with a team of 15 to 25 professionals and serves businesses across multiple international markets.

In October 2021, Sharma launched Empire Weekly, an award-winning digital media publication dedicated to entertainment news, celebrity culture, and global pop culture coverage. The platform has developed a growing international readership and continues to expand its editorial presence through news coverage, features, and interviews.

Across Asia-Pacific, digital entrepreneurship is accelerating as young founders build globally competitive businesses from emerging technology hubs. Recognition such as this highlights the increasing influence of South Asian entrepreneurs in shaping the region's evolving digital economy.

Reflecting on the recognition, Sharma said:

"This recognition is not just about one company or one milestone. It reflects years of consistent effort to build something meaningful from Kolkata and prove that global digital businesses can emerge from anywhere."

He added:

"The next generation of entrepreneurs in South Asia is building with a global mindset from day one. If this award does anything, I hope it encourages more young founders to trust their ideas and build patiently."

Prior to this recognition, Sharma received the Indian Achievers' Award in the Young Entrepreneur category in 2020 organised by the Indian Achievers' Forum, and the India 500 CEO Award in 2022 organised by India 5000, acknowledging his early contributions to entrepreneurship and digital innovation.

Connect with Ujwal Sharma: https://linkedin.com/in/ujwalsharma

Award Announcement Date 2 April 2026

Winner Listing:
https://apacinsider.digital/winners/ujwal-sharma/

contact@uziworlddigital.com

Uzi World Digital is the leading digital marketing agency trusted by A-list celebrities, influential figures, and iconic brands to elevate their online presence.

This release was published on openPR.